RACING: QUEL ESPRIT secured Willie Mullins a remarkable eighth success in yesterday's Hennessy at Leopardstown and is on track to try and secure the champion trainer and elusive Cheltenham Gold Cup victory next month.
With a Grand National (Hedgehunter) and a Champion Hurdle (Hurricane Fly) already on his big-race CV, the Gold Cup remains the missing leg of National Hunt racing’s Triple Crown for Mullins and his determination to win it was obvious yesterday.
“I don’t know where he fits in but I often think if you have one able to go for a Gold Cup then you should go for it, even if they are 25 to 1,” Mullins said.
Quel Esprit’s battling two-length defeat of Roberto Goldback in yesterday’s €160,000 feature hardly had the Kauto Star and Long Run camps running for cover, but the 25 to 1 disappeared and the previously clumsy grey is now a 16 to 1 shot for steeplechasing’s blue-riband.
The major positive for Mullins and Ruby Walsh was an almost foot-perfect round of jumping that put to bed concerns about how Quel Esprit had failed to finish in half of his six previous starts over fences.
“We went a real good gallop. It was more like riding in an English Grade One than an Irish one,” Walsh said.
“When we schooled the novices 18 months ago, this fella stood out. He was just unlucky last year.”
Mullins also said Quel Esprit had had a minor wind operation during the off-season and believes that may have made a difference to his jumping this term.
“When Ruby asked him today he came up very well. Last year he wasn’t, so maybe the op helped him. Or maybe he’s just stronger and more mature,” he said.
“Ruby gave him a brave ride. He wasn’t afraid to send him to the front and let him jump from fence to fence.
“We were surprised and disappointed with his jumping last year but he jumped and galloped today,” added Mullins who saddled two other winners on the day.
Good and all as Quel Esprit ran yesterday, it will be long odds about Walsh getting off Kauto Star to ride him again at Cheltenham, which could leave Paul Townend in for the Gold Cup ride.
Either way Mullins is willing to take his shot.
Both Florida Pearl (2000) and Hedgehunter (2006) found one too good for them on the day that matters most at Cheltenham.
Quel Esprit at least goes there with a Gold Cup of the Leopardstown variety already under his belt.
