2 weeks Ago By Sam Morgan
WILLIE MULLINS had 'quality in every purchase' - after splashing more than £1million on a raft of new recruits for the jumps season. Mullins won the top trainer titles in Britain and Ireland last year, becoming the first to do so since Vincent O'Brien in 1954. His Closutton base is absolutely choc-full of the finest equine talent, including current Gold Cup, Grand National and Champion Hurdle superstars.
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uk But it is in France that Mullins does most of his buying of new horses these days - and for good reason. Vauban, Chacun Pour Soi and Vautour are just some of the top names to have travelled over in recent years. And Mullins has added to his already massive squad with a whole load of new runners for 2024-25.
Sun Racing told you how French racing expert Adam Mills had previously identified smart hurdler Willy De Houelle as 'the daddy of them all' . Bookies have made the three-year-old colt - who will run in the instantly recognisable pink and green silks of Rich Ricci - 8-1 favourite for the Triumph Hurdle. But he is one of many on his way to or currently residing at Mullins' famed County Carlow yard.
Mills broke down Mullins' purchases - which smashed the £1m mark - and said there was 'quality in every one'. The most expensive of the lot coming in at around £265,000 was Charlus, whose dam-sire was none other than Sir Alex Ferguson's brilliant horse Rock Of Gibraltar. Charlus, a three-year-old gelding, has been beaten just once in four career starts, finishing runner-up when last seen in a 1m1f Listed contest at Bordeaux.
Billionaire racing mogul JP McManus has been busy too, with at least five French horses he has bought making their way to Mullins. Among them is Karoline Banbou, a four-year-old filly who finished in a Grade 2 bumper on her only run to date. McManus also looks to have splashed some cash on Kel Histoire, Venusienne, Kom Tu Voudras and Kawaboomga as well.
But it is multi-millionaire bookie turned art collector Joe Donnelly who looks to have one of the more hyped purchases. A lot is expected of Fou De Toi, who was third on debut at Auteuil behind subsequent Listed winner Sauvignon. It's no surprise that a load of these names feature strongly in the Triumph Hurdle market, given the previous five winners all started out racing in France.
And even those that don't win at Cheltenham go onto greatness. Former Honeysuckle owner Kenny Alexander poached Kargese from France and she finished runner-up to last year's Triumph Hurdle winner Majborough. Majborough was bought from France by JP McManus and trained by, you guessed it, Mullins.
Kargese finished second in the Grade 1 Aintree Juvenile Hurdle behind Sir Gino - who himself came with a huge reputation from France having won a Listed race. She then went onto win her own Grade 1 at Punchestown a few weeks later. A responsible gambler is someone who: Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
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