Willie Mullins, the dominating figure in the world of jump racing, set a new record on Easter Sunday for the most winners in a season in Ireland. A seven-time victory at Fairyhouse and Cork set this latest achievement at 631-1. In the 2023-24 campaign with over a month remaining, Mullins has registered an astonishing 238 winners, thus surpassing his own record from the previous season.
Kopek Des Bordes completed Mullins’ fifth victory at Fairyhouse, which was topped off with Jade Grugy’s Grade One success in the Honeysuckle Novice Hurdle. Mullins, already a confirmed 18-time winner of the trainers title, also celebrated two wins in Cork. However, the seven wins this year were just one less than his 2023 Easter Sunday record, marking the highest number of victories in a single day in Mullins’ career. This is also when he surpassed his 212 victories in a single season record set in 2018.
Mullins’s supremacy in the sport is increasingly evident, with an additional nine victories at the Cheltenham Festival, and surpassing the ‘century’ mark at the largest festival. This dominance was temporarily interrupted on Easter Sunday when Spillane’s Tower, trained by Jimmy Mangan, won the Grade One race at Fairyhouse.
Mangan, notably a Grand National champion in 2003 with Monty’s Pass, had only previously seen top-tier success with Conna Castle. Spillane’s Tower mimicked this victory with his win in the WillowWarm Gold Cup, marking the race’s first non-Mullins win after five consecutive victories. Despite Mullins’ runners, Tactical Move and favourite Blood Destiny, settling for the runner-up spots.
Despite having just twelve horses in his County Cork stable, Mangan’s significance on the sport was not lost on anyone at Fairyhouse, even Mullins himself. “Willie is the king of trainers in England and Ireland, and really everywhere, and he wished me well today,” Mangan noted, sporting his trademark bobble hat.
In their third encounter of the season, Spillane’s Tower managed a narrow victory of 2-1 over Blood Destiny, raising the possibility of a promising future. Even though Spillane’s Tower’s jumps were not as smooth as they usually are, the private rivalry was intense. Mangan, flashing a wide grin, stated that if such a performance didn’t enthral someone, then they probably should move on. He envisions a bright future for Dr Green – a grass court specialist – predicting significant challenges in the upcoming season.
Despite being dominant throughout, Mullins had a surprising stall on the first day of the Easter festival. However, 17 days after experiencing her first loss at Cheltenham, Jade De Grugy showcased a commendable comeback by securing a well-deserved success in the Grade One Honeysuckle Mares Hurdle. Also representing Kenny Alexander’s colours like Honeysuckle, Jade De Grugy triumphed in the same weekend when the now-retired superstar Honeysuckle was blessed with her first offspring.
Jade De Grugy’s sheer tenacity and grit mirrored Honeysuckle’s, as she managed to exploit a blunder by her own stablemate Spindleberry at the final flight, ensuring a much-needed top-level victory. Mullins commended Jade De Grugy’s resilience after her Cheltenham setback, admiring her ‘engine’. He expressed sympathy for Spindleberry, who he believed was on the brink of victory.
In other news, Mullins celebrated Grade Two victories at Fairyhouse with Mirazur West and Captain Cody, while Asterion Forlonge easily clinched a match for Cork’s Grade Three feature.