The majority of winners for The Festival’s most successful trainer Willie Mullins tend to go off at shorter prices but Jimmy Du Seuil (16-1) sealed a 356-1 double for the Irish handler with victory in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle. This followed on from the 20-1 win of Lecky Watson in the preceding Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.
Making his first start in 313 days, Jimmy Du Seuil saw off Impose Toi to seal victory in the 2m 5f handicap hurdle under the trainer’s nephew Danny.
Danny Mullins said: “Credit goes to Willie Mullins – coming here with no run this season, prepared for a handicap like that, no run in a handicap… it’s just great to be a part of that team.
“It was unbelievable. The snow this morning was what I thought would help his chances. It was quite testing ground here last year. In fairness to him, the last furlong was always going to be that difficult furlong, but he hit the line very strong. That’s a great performance, he’s a good little pony!
“This is the place we all want to come every year. I’ve been lucky enough to ride winners here before, but you don’t take any of them for granted – any time you get to the top of the hill in front, that’s a special feeling.
“He was second to Ballyburn last year, which was quite a nice bit of form, but first run in a handicap round here - you’d want to be banking on Willie Mullins for that!
“Travelled smooth, jumped well - for a horse having his first run in handicap to jump so well through the race… I knew after a year off from having a race that I didn’t want to come there too soon, so I was delighted to have Nico [de Boinville] to come with me down to the last, he just flattened out a bit and I hit the line quite strongly after that. It was plain sailing all the way round for a Coral Cup - not the usual.
“I wonder where Willie will end up with him, but with that engine there’ll be a lot of options. I think with the manner of that victory, it was a Graded horse in a handicap. Maybe with his novice form last year suggests that he is a Graded horse and he’s only proving it now.
“Even Willie’s second, third, fourth, fifth strings - they still have a chance of winning; it’s just a case of going out there with the winning mindset all the time. They have a great team of owners, the staff do a great job, and it makes our job a lot easier when we go out on track.”
Willie Mullins – 107 Festival wins
Danny Mullins – 3 Festival wins
Nicky Henderson said of runner-up Impose Toi said: “The lack of a recent run wasn’t an issue. He is a funny character as he does absolutely nothing at home at all.
“Suddenly out there three quarters of the way through the race he carted Nico (de Boinville) into the race and if anything he got there too soon.
“It didn’t matter that happened as the other horse was always going to win.
“Of course we will go again with him. I would have thought that is his trip. We didn’t think he would get this at first, but he wouldn’t want to go over three miles.”
Chris Richardson, racing manager to owners Cheveley Park Stud, said of the third Ballyadam: “He loves it here every time. He is a star in his own right. He is another year older, but he just keeps on giving. In fairness his worst enemy is the handicapper. He loves running here and running fresh so we are delighted. The key to him is keeping him fresh.
“He will be 11 next year so who knows if he will come back again as Richard Thompson will make that decision.
“We are down from 22 to eight jump horses so we are slowly winding that down sadly, but I’m sure in time hopefully there might be a little bit more involvement again.”
