WILLIE MULLINS PAID tribute to his owners and staff after being crowned champion trainer for the 17th time on the final day of the Punchestown Festival.
It has been another memorable campaign for the master of Closutton, who in January sent out is 4,000th career winner and set a new record for the number of winners in a National Hunt season in Ireland when surpassing his previous best total of 202 at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival.
Highlights on home soil include winning the Irish Gold Cup with Galopin Des Champs and the BoyleSports Grand National with I Am Maximus, while the likes of State Man, El Fabiolo and Facile Vega were all multiple Grade One winners domestically.
He said: “To win the champion trainer title is the icing on another great season for our team.
“Galopin Des Champs winning at the Dublin Racing Festival, and I am Maximus winning the Irish Grand National were two personal highlights for me.
“Winning titles like this wouldn’t be possible without our loyal owners who send us these wonderful horses. It’s a huge team effort at Closutton – our staff go above and beyond in all weathers and keep the show on the road so winning the champion trainer title is a tribute to everyone at home.”
Mullins’ number one rider Paul Townend picked up the champion jockey title for the fifth consecutive season and sixth time in all.
Townend reached the 100-winner mark for the season when steering Gaelic Warrior to success at Punchestown on Wednesday, his fourth career century, while the I A Maximus provided him with a first Irish Grand National triumph.
“I’m in a very privileged position, riding so many superstars for Willie Mullins,” said Townend.
“We had an unbelievable season, especially on the big days like Christmas, Dublin Racing Festival, the Fairyhouse Easter Festival and at Punchestown this week.
“It was a great thrill to win such an iconic race like the Irish Grand National and finally get on that special roll of honour with I Am Maximus. Galopin Des Champs winning the Irish Gold Cup and the Cheltenham Gold Cup was exceptional too.”
Mullins’ record-breaking son Patrick was crowned champion amateur for the 15th time, while Townend’s sister Jody picked up the champion lady amateur title for the third successive season.
Rising star Michael O’Sullivan began the 2022/23 season as a 7lb claiming amateur, but ended it as champion conditional with three Grade One winners to his name, including the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham aboard the hugely exciting Marine Nationale.
O’Sullivan, who is currently sidelined by a broken collarbone, said: “I’ve had a brilliant season. My partnership with Barry Connell and our Grade Ones together were the pinnacle.
“I can’t forget my first big winner as a professional at the Listowel Festival. I had a double on the day and I won a big handicap for Terence O’Brien (Magnor Glory) and a had winner for Mikey Kennedy (Presenting J) – my local festival for local people.
“I had a double the following week for Barry Connell in Roscommon, including my first Graded success on board Enniskerry. The treble at Cork on Easter Sunday was also special.”
For the 20th time and for the third season running, JP McManus was crowned champion owner.
He’s one more win from getting his British passport back!!!
Great comment. Well done
There’s a new one!
How hilarious. And so original. I’ve almost never heard that gag before.
But tell me this. Once the ocean of laughter has subsided and we’ve all had our sides stiched up, I’m curious to know whether there’s any actual evidence for your implication that the Brits claim Murray as their own when he wins and refer to him as Scottish when he loses. Are there any facts to back that up, or is it just another one of our bitter little fantasies?
You sound bitter yourself. And yes commentators have been known to make him a Brit when he wins
Wow, some vintage “logical thinking” there. Gotta hand it to you, you’re a latter-day Wittgenstein. But, at the risk of repeating myself, do you have any actual evidence for your suggestion that they’re more likely to refer to him as British when he wins than when he loses? Or did you just make it up?
She is pure dirt and I like it.
I love the way she spots herself on the big screen at the end of her rant and the eyes go very wide.
She looks very naughty..
Goes like “if it wasn’t for the money,I’d never go near this boring,ugly Scottish p€(&k. And his mother is suck an annoying B$£%h I hope she gets hit in the mouth with a tennis ball”
Anger issues perhaps, Fearghal?
No
Fearghal….Anger and envy…sad life for you.
Ahh yeah
Sp@nk on me t€ts Ya durty basst€&d ??
I’ll show you where to stick that fist later you f***. Pure filth indeed
You should donate here:
http://www.vice.com/read/these-porn-stars-are-getting-naked-for-charity-823
Im no expert but im getting “im f******g loving that s**t you something f**k”……..pottymouth indeed
F****ng have it you czech f****ng f***
Something along the lines of ‘f*cking have that you Chech flash f*ck’ is what it looks like to me!
It’s quite clear. They’re saying “…up..town funk you up, I said uptown funk you up…”
She’s saying “fcuk, what a fcukin loser – should’ve hit on the other guy”
He’s saying “fcuk with a few more wins, I could have a chick without a giant forehead – like Ester … “
Something about putting up a shelf !
Think she said: ” I’d fecking love a fish fecking supper with fecking fresh fecking fish”?
You win my vote. Ha awesome!
I think she’s saying “the journals using fluching sh!t vines again, fluichs sake.
“Fu3k off ya shagging french fu3ker.” I am 98% certain. Filthy dirty bird. And before you ask yes I am a born professional lip reader. 35 years experience.
How can we speculate on what she is saying if there is a bold word filter, for flock sake! See what I mean, we are all adults, mostly, so why can’t we say the bold words?! You can keep the ‘C’ word on the ‘bold word’ list but allow it during articles about cyclists!
Fu@king have that shit you flash fu@ck… Nice!!
Think Andys goin to get his rocks off tonight
I got “u may be beautiful but they’re keeping my idea on file, in a filing cabinet”
If I’m right, she ought to be ashamed. Filth.
Cheer up you miserable scotch cannnttt
“I’m gonna f@@kin make you the best f@@kin sandwich you ever had when we get home……f@@k”
Fu*king hell have a shower you french fcuk ! Is what she’s saying
Where’s my comment?!!
It actually looks like fed up of this sh-it, the french f**k
It’s shite being scotttishh
A: Fūcking c’mon
A: yessssh
A’s girlfriend: Fück all off, you chechen fat fūck
Anyone lip read what Bryan Dobson said at the end of 6.1 tonight? lol.
Fuxk off you check Fat Fuxxer. ?
F*ck I forgot to put up that shelf, F*ckity F*ck’ ????!!
It looks to me very much like, “F*ck Berdych, the old fashioned f*ck.”!
I’d fckin love a shower and freshin up?
She is stunning and classy ❤️
Second attempt: “F*ck off, Berdych, you old fashioned f*ck”!
“I’m a lovely shy fat fan”
Andy Murray “ah f@ck, come on”
“I feel like having a shite, fart after fart…” Bad lip read?