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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Melissa Jones

Facile Vega "looks the real deal" says Willie Mullins as trainer lands 234-1 four-timer

Willie Mullins rounded off a 234-1 Leopardstown four-timer with headline maker Facile Vega.

The son of the trainer's former classy mare Quevega bounded away from a fine selection of previous winners in the Goffs Future Stars (C & G) I.N.H. Flat Race.

Patrick Mullins did not ask the 8-11 for maximum effort as he easily stretched 12 lengths ahead of the well-regarded Sandor Clegane.

Facile Vega, now 11-10 for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival, followed stablemates Minella Cocooner, Vauban and Blue Lord into the winners' enclosure.

"He's even better than I thought he was," Mullins said about Facile Vega.

"He looks the real deal."

Mullins, who has an impressive set of results at the Dublin Racing Festival, hit the target at the first opportunity of 2022.

His nephew Danny got his tactics spot on riding Minella Cocooner (11-1) in the opening Grade 1 novice hurdle.

Willie Mullins had four winners on day one of the 2022 Dublin Racing Festival (Getty)

In the aftermath the six-year-old's price came in to 6-1 for the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival.

Next to score was Vauban, now at the head of the market for the Triumph Hurdle with Punchestown conqueror Pied Piper.

Owner Rich Ricci made his first trip to Ireland in two years to see the 9-4 shot defeat the previously unbeaten Fil Dor.

"He was very good there and there's more to come I think. He'll improve from that," Ricci said.

Blue Lord (5-2) capitalised on a late error from Riviere D’Etel in race three – giving Mullins a quick hat-trick.

Riviere D'Etel's blunder gave Blue Lord victory in the Patrick Ward & Co Solicitors Irish Arkle Novice Chase (Getty)

The runner-up lost her momentum and despite the winner crossing in front of her up the run-in, cut back the deficit to just half-a-length.

Stewards confirmed the placings in a post-race enquiry and Mullins said his horse had more in reserve than it appeared.

"Paul (Townend, jockey) said when he got to the front he just did what he did in Naas, he just idled," he added.

"Between the wind and the crowd here today you could see him looking around himself. I'm very happy with his performance."

Gordon Elliott, whose horses had to settle for second behind Mullins' first three winners, scooped the feature on the card.

Conflated (18-1) shortened dramatically in price for next month's Gold Cup after he defeated reigning champion Minella Indo in the Irish version.

Willie Mullins' 234-1 four-timer

Minella Cocooner 11-1

Vauban 9-4

Blue Lord 5-2

Facile Vega 8-11f

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