Hurdle County winner Saint King has a 10-1 record for Champion Hurdle in March after a comfortable victory on his return to the Horse.
The five-year-old coached through Willie Mullins is very light, but that hasn’t stopped him from recording an incredibly impressive good fortune in Cheltenham.
Discarded the favorite 4-7 to make a winning comeback, Mark Walsh never endured a moment of concern and, despite a sloppy jump to the last, Saint King beat the Tigris River in five and a half lengths.
Mullins said: “I’m very happy. Career situations worked very well for him and that’s a big plus.
“The release of Noel Meade’s horse (Beacon Edge) is also a help and we will take all the help we can take at this level of the season.
“He did well, but he had great merit with that of the race.
Mark said he was riding the last fake and modified it. I think he tightened up a little bit for the third place. I was afraid he’d get out of the bridle, but Mark said he was tight for the place. . “
“Otherwise, he’s very professional with his jumps and I’m not worried on that front.
“It’s the kind of speed that shows all the time in the house and its last task before Cheltenham electric. I think going there would take a lot of punches.
“However, races like Hurdle County’s are complicated for horses. “
As for the long-term goals, Mullins added: “He did very well in the summer and arrived early just because this race adapted to the conditions. “
“The Morgiana would be on the agenda, but I may throw it into the depths.
“He’s a seasonal rookie and there may be options. I think there is a run at Down Royal for seasonal rookies (Grade Two WKD Hurdle). “
Saint King finished with a double at the beginning of the third year for Mullins, who also on court with the Shewearsitwell mounted through Paul Townend (favorite 11-8) on the Joe Mac Novice Hurdle. A step forward in elegance awaits you.
“It’s smart functionality and it’s getting better all the time,” Mullins said.
“She’s a small, sharp jumper and that’s been a great credit to her in this contest, to rise through the ranks.
“At least now I know she’s competitive on the minimum trip, so I’m afraid to stay with her on this trip.
“I’m going to talk to Paul because he said she’s probably going as fast as she can do when the most productive obstacles arise, it might be difficult. So far everything’s fine. “
“We are very satisfied with the Closutton Racing Club (union) because it is its first winner. It’s great to have a mare for them.
“We’ll check out to keep her in the mares corporation and now she’s going to have to be in range. The dream would be to be smart enough to run in the Royal Bond.
“Either way, she’s smart enough to get in now and she’s going to be in our minds.
“We can simply check to locate anything through then for her. In time Down Royal may be an option for her.
The other third year on the map, hunting rookies like a butterfly, who followed the same trail as Galvin, trained through Gordon Elliott, who ejected with a 1 to 4 chance.
Winning pilot Davy Russell said: “It was wonderful and he understood it. It’s not the toughest race, but now it’s making it a lot more wonderful. “
“Gordon does a wonderful task with all those horses and he’s a guy to ride for. I’m very happy to be part of the team. “