Mullins launches big attack on November Handicap at Naas
October 30, 2018 | Jackie Donohoe
Willie Mullins is hoping to make his presence felt on the final day of the 2018 Irish Flat Season at Naas this Sunday.
Mullins is responsible for 15 of the remaining 41 entries in the €100,000 Daragh Fitzpatrick & Colm White Local Bookmakers November Handicap as he eyes another major prize.
Limini and the Grade 1 winning hurdler Whiskey Sour top the weights for the most valuable race on Sunday’s card and English Cesarewitch runner-up Uradel is another potential runner.
Mullins was mobhanded in both the English and Irish Cesarewitch and he is likely to be well represented numerically in the November Handicap according to his son Patrick.
“There is fantastic prize money on offer at Naas and we’ve been very lucky in this type of race all year so we’ll see how they all work later in the week and the horses that run best will probably run,” Mullins reported. “Limini, Whiskey Sour, Stratum and Uradel are all near the top of the weights but all are possible runners. This has undoubtedly been our most successful year to date on the Flat and would be nice to sign off on a high at Naas this weekend.”
The champion National Hunt trainer is also likely to hold a strong hand in the concluding race of the season, the Listed Finale Stakes over a mile and a half.
Ger Lyons has entered Mustajeer who is the highest rated of the 12 entries and Jessica Harrington has included Still Standing and Whirling Dervish. Recent Bath winner True Self is another notable Mullins entry on the card.
“We were delighted with True Self at Bath and we are hoping to run her again at the weekend. She is entered in a 1m2f race at Newmarket but we are leaning towards running her at Naas over a mile and a half at the moment. Riven Light is another possibility for the Naas race as there aren’t a lot of options left open to him for the remainder of the year,” added Mullins.
Sunday’s Flat Finale fixture will crown the champion’s of the 2018 Irish Flat Season with Aidan O’Brien, Donnacha O’Brien and Mrs Sue Magnier claiming the champion trainer, jockey and owner awards respectively. Sunday will also bring a close to an exciting race for the apprentice championship with Tipperary native Shane Crosse currently holding the advantage over Ben Coen, Killian Leonard and Tom Madden.
There will be a strong local presence at Naas Racecouse this Sunday with Naas based McAuley Place carrying out a major fundraiser on the day. McAuley Place was established in 2000 as a voluntary non-denominational, not for profit, housing association with charitable status. The charity, who will have races on the card backed by JF Dunne Insurances and Irish Dog Foods, put huge emphasis on promoting opportunities for lifelong learning - with arts being central to this policy - and also on ensuring social inclusion for residents and for the wider community.
Naas Racecourse will also be acknowledging the achievements of Naas GAA’s Minor Football team who completed the league and championship double this year with the Congrats To The Naas Minor Football Champions 2018 Handicap over five furlongs.
The first on an eight race card this Sunday is due off at 12.20pm.
