WILLIE WATCH

Dorrels Pierji ....ten days ago 100\1 on here for the ballymore
Now 20/1 with most bookies ,33\1 with 365
Now 26\1 on here
Horse hasn't run anywhere ?

Wednesday at Leops Willie is bringing out this years crop of French breds .The Juvenile Hurdle at 1.10  is one of the most interesting races for me. The French bred La Sorelita, a grey filly, no doubt a hundreds of thousands purchase comes with a 33/1 quote for the triumph hurdle in March at Cheltenham.  In Clairefontaine (France) on 21 Jul 2018 this horse finished 3rd in a juvenile hurdle for 3YO only. Prior to that she won her maiden over there value 13k . Interestingly Townend takes the ride on the Frenchie whilst D E Mullins gets the ride on Maze Runner, who, whilst the French filly was sunning herself in the valley of Chevreuse,  was bumping and boring his way round the twists and turns of galway, kilbeggan, tramore and cork trying to earn a living in 12f and 14f  flat races. Eventually success came at  the end of October when at Galway the gelding fell out of the stalls and somehow managed to cling on to a win having at one stage looking like winning by a furlong. Then at the start of this month he had a bumping match before mistakes in jumping, but still managed to get home over 16f in a hurdle.  This fellah is a street fighter and who has he got up, ? yes Danny Mullins the street fighter himself, this fellah has got into more trouble for whipping than Sylvia Payne !  I know who my money will be on.

In the 2.10 at Leops Wednesday , Willie enters Voix du Reve in the Novice Steeplechase over 2m 1f .  Last four winners of this race were   footpad, min, douvan and clarcam., which tells you just how highly Willie rates the horse. The field also includes Mengli Khan, who im not sure about, Le Richelbourg which is one of JP’s arkle "or" RSA horses at the moment and Minds Eye. There are only six runners, and it will more than likely end up a tactical battle  with a dodgy result. Minds Eye appeals at 25/1, typical HDB improver, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Willies get beat here, but would advise get on for Cheltenham NRNB in the new year.

If you hit the bulls eye with Mullins' new recruits it could be rewarding if the stable are not already on them eg Min, Vautour, Douvan, etc. However, lately more off-targets given increased competitiveness from Elliot and his "separation" from Gigginstown proving less fruitful than in the past.

I'm not sure why Quick Grabim isn't running at Leopardstown, that was mentioned as an obvious target following his Royal Bond victory. Has he met with a setback? Bit of a drifter in the Supreme market suggests that might be the case, as a backer I hope not.

Another horse that seems to have fallen off the radar is Draconien - any news on him? I know they were talking about going over fences and that he wants decent ground, but I've seen nothing recently on him. Perhaps another setback or just a late-starter to make the most of spring ground opportunities.

Mystic, think Draconian is out for the season.

Tiger Tap Tap (GER) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 12.10
Andalusa (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 12.10
Dolciano Dici (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 12.40
Real Steel (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 12.40
Ifyoucatchmenow (IRE) runs at Limerick on Thursday 27th Dec 1.00
Footpad (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 1.15
Great Field (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 1.15
Aramon (GER) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 1.50
Sancta Simona (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 1.50
Causey Arch (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 2.25
Cut The Mustard (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 2.25
Blazer (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
Livelovelaugh (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
Orion d'Aubrelle (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
Minella Beau (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
Pairofbrowneyes (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
Polidam (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.00
K'chou Du Pecos Aa (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Thursday 27th Dec 3.30

Footpad gets a chance to redeem himself.
Sancta Simona currently 16/1 for the mares Novice Hurdle
Causey arch 50/1 for the AB

One winner .... ?

Elite Charboniere (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 12.10
Redhotfillypeppers (IRE) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 12.30
Pleasant Company (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 12.45
Undressed (FR) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 1.05
Bacardys (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 1.20
Saglawy (FR) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 1.40
Stormy Ireland (FR) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 1.40
Bapaume (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 1.50
Faugheen (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 1.50
Shaneshill (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 1.50
Annamix (FR) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 2.10
Bellshill (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 3.00
Kemboy (FR) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 3.00
General Counsel (IRE) runs at Leopardstown on Friday 28th Dec 3.35
Southern Nights (IRE) runs at Limerick on Friday 28th Dec 3.50

Few Cheltenham hopes in that lot …..but is the stable under a cloud ...like it was last year at the same time ?

Townend to Limerick  Walsh to Leopardstown

red Hot Philly Peppers 6/4 in place
Pleasant Company  33/1 for the national
undressed 5/4 best price .....

Few decent lays about going on current form

Simply Ned, bless him

Mullins must hate the sight of him !!

Yeah not many around done min and footpad !

8 runners under 5\1
One winner 7 losers ,....
Not a bad day Rodney

More decent ones running today, lets hope the failure rate doesnt improve !
Castlebawn west has been kept away from th e pack and should have won last time out
ruby up now ......
Dorrells perji is a class horse under the radar....
Mt leinster is no slouch either
Limini, melon, sharjah all rated highly on the willie pecking order
Some of the stables best have a run out today
.....and with the stable punching well below its weight currently !

Farid (FR) finished 6th at Fairyhouse on Saturday 23rd Feb 2.15
Eight And Bob (GB) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Saturday 23rd Feb 2.50
Rathvinden (IRE) finished 1st at Fairyhouse on Saturday 23rd Feb 4.00

Last 21 Days (N.H.)
48  runners
10  wins
8   placed
20.83%

Over 20% for the first time in months

123 in theleinster national
Two days before cheltenham
OMINOUS .....

There not runnin 2 bad

Defy De Mee (FR) finished 2nd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 2.10
Face The Facts (IRE) finished 5th at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 2.10
Chacun Pour Soi (FR) finished 1st at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 2.40
Mister Blue Sky (IRE) finished 2nd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 3.15
Robin Des Foret (IRE) finished 3rd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 3.45
Camelia De Cotte (FR) finished 2nd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 3.45
Sayar (IRE) finished 15th at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 4.20
Pairofbrowneyes (IRE) finished 1st at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 4.50
Isleofhopendreams (GB) finished 2nd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 4.50
Bellow Mome (FR) finished 3rd at Naas on Sunday 10th Mar 4.50

I'd say they are coming to the boil !

who won the top trainer award ?

Asterion Forlonge (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 1.30

Elixir D'ainay (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 1.30

Francin (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 1.30

Tiger Tap Tap (GER) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 1.30

Bapaume (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 2.10

Cash Back (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 2.10

Pleasant Company (IRE) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 2.50

Cabaret Queen (GB) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 2.50

Koshari (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 2.50

Cilaos Emery (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 3.30

Sharjah (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 3.30

Benie Des Dieux (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 4.10

Elfile (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 4.10

Great White Shark (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 4.10

Stormy Ireland (FR) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 4.10

Carefully Selected (IRE) entered Cheltenham on Tuesday 10th Mar 5.30

So Willie obviously had a great Cheltenham, but many wouldusually point to his second, third, or fourth choice runners to say "typical" when they come in. So how did they do this year ?

Tuesday.....5 "others" not favs , and no winners, sharjah 16\1 2nd, elfile 16\1 second

Wednesday,...9 Othhers..FERNY HOLLOW 11\1 wins

Thursday.....10 others melon 14\1 2nd, bacardys 33\1 3rd, CONCERTISTA won 9/2 with Dolcita 9\1 2nd

Friday ....11 others, aramon 2nd 8/1, Great white shark 3rd 40\1

Not a bad weeks work !

Ruaille Buaille (IRE) b f 2015.   25\1 MARES NOVICE HURDLE

100% Guarenteed rain at 4 p m  tomorrow in Galway...Note the last sentence below.

Trainer. W P Mullins
Breeder  Ronald O'Neill

3.02 galway 7th october
Faber Audiovisuals Rated Novice Hurdle of €14,500.00 4-y-o plus 2m. 3f. 19yds. 6 Declared

After race at Tramore Fri, 14th Aug, 2020 (1st)  She was much more relaxed in the parade ring today. I think she came on for her run last month, she was one of our first ones to run. The strong gallop suited her today. She is out of the Hidden Cyclone pedigree. Tom Nugent is the man who heads the syndicate and he has the mare. Tom is a friend of mine from school, he is a good fella and I think they'll have a bit more fun with this one. There is a couple of mares' winners' bumpers coming up but we might just go straight hurdling with her while the ground is nice. We'll see, I'm not sure she is a real heavy-ground filly.  W P Mullins

Excellent performance, found a leg when she should of come down, not her ground, no run after the last, but came up the hill well and finished with plenty in the tank.Willie will find one for her at cheltenham.