Patrick Mullins hopes he can turn a lifelong dream into reality by becoming the first amateur rider in 31 years to win the Randox Grand National at Aintree aboard second favourite Burrows Saint, who he believes “ticks all the right boxes”.
Taking each other on with Burrows Saint! @kevinblake2011 and @CoddJJ have contrasting views on the 2019 Irish Grand National winner…
The Grade One-winning jockey picked up the plum spare ride aboard the eight year old, who is trained by his father Willie Mullins, when regular rider Paul Townend failed to recover from a foot injury sustained in a fall at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
It will be the fourth time the 31 year old has ridden in the world’s greatest steeplechase since making his debut in it in 2011, and he believes the Susannah Ricci-owned gelding represents his best chance of winning.
Burrows Saint, who landed the Irish National in 2019, warmed up for his first start over the famous fences when chasing home stablemate Acapella Bourgeois in the Grade Three Bobbyjo Chase at Fairyhouse in February.
He said: “It is fantastic to pick up the spin on him and obviously Paul hasn’t recovered from his fall in Fairyhouse. The weight (10st 13lb) is quite light for me but it is just enough. He is in great form at home. The lad that rides him out is very happy with him.
“I got a sit on him over at Haydock this morning and he ticks a lot of the boxes. He is the right age at eight years old. He has the right kind of weight and is progressing as he has only had nine runs over fences. I’m really excited to be sitting on him.
“It was in the back of my head (that I might get the ride). I saw the weight was doable. I was watching it from then. I was never expecting to ride a horse with a live chance in the Grand National. It doesn’t get any better than this. I did 11st 1lbs on a filly 10 days ago as I’m quite in the championship (amateur jockeys) with Jamie (Codd) so I was watching my weight anyway.
“I usually have one with lots of weight that is an outsider. Ever since I was seven or eight and I read a book on the history of the Grand National, I wanted to win it. Some people like the Gold Cup, but for me this is the race I’ve always wanted to have a crack at so it doesn’t get any better.
“To be able to do it riding one of Willie’s would be great and for Rich Ricci. We’ve been very lucky to get here. Since Marcus won it, Jamie Codd has come very close and Sam Waley-Cohen has come very close so hopefully one of us (amateur riders) will be able to crack the nut soon enough.
“I was second on a horse called Boxer Georg in the Foxhunters a few years ago. Willy Twiston-Davies beat me on Baby Run. That’s the closest I’ve come (to winning over the fences). My dad won the Foxhunters on Atha Cliath and to win one over the National fences would be a dream before I hang up my boots.”
Although the coronavirus pandemic forced last year’s race to be cancelled, Mullins believes that may have been no bad thing for Burrows Saint.
He added: “On the stats, missing the race as a seven year old last year is probably a good thing as no seven year old has won the race since 1940 so that might have been a blessing in disguise. He is a year older and he is still relatively unexposed. I think he ticks a lot of boxes.
“I think everything has gone pretty much to plan. He had a nice couple of runs over hurdles and a nice run in the Bobbyjo. I know he didn’t win but he wears a tongue strap and heavy ground wouldn’t have suited him well. When he won the Irish National it was this sort of ground so that will bring out improvement.”
Closutton handler Mullins will also be represented in the National by Burrow Saint’s last time out conqueror Acapella Bourgeois, Cabaret Queen and Class Conti.
The Cheltenham Festival-winning rider added: “I rode Acapella Bourgeois out this morning as well and he seems in great form. Danny gets on very well with him.
“Obviously he beat Burrows Saint in the Bobbyjo so where one is the other shouldn’t be far away. I suppose Burrows Saint will improve more for the better ground as Acapella Bourgeois seems to like that heavy ground so that might swap the placings there. He is a horse that is a little bit older as he is 11. He is probably a little bit more exposed but he is in great form and he has a nice racing weight as well.
“Class Conti has to have a little squeak of getting placed. I suppose the worry with him is will he be able to lie up with the early pace. He is a safe jumper. He will like the ground. My mother Jackie rides him out at home so she will take a lot of the credit if he wins. Brian Hayes gets the spin on him. I could see him running into a place quite easily.
“Sean O’Keeffe rode a winner for us at Cheltenham and he gets a spin on Cabaret Queen. She has won the Kerry National at Listowel and she has won a couple of good handicap chases. Her form has tapered off a little bit but I think this drier ground will suit her well. I think there are worse long shots than her.”
Shelbourne FC is delighted to announce our 2021 Home Kit, Hamptons Homes is the new name on the jersey, they will join a quality list of sponsors to grace the famous Red jersey.
As with the two Reds teams that represent Shelbourne FC in the SSE Airtricity League and FAI Women’s National League, the 2021 Home Kit features two reds in a unique bespoke design in collaboration with Umbro Ireland. May have a go playing casino-utan-svensk-licens.com while watching the match
Hamptons Homes said they are “delighted to partner up once again with such an iconic football club and after our hugely successful sponsorship last year with Hamptons Floor Store & Brooklyn Flooring, we’re thrilled to step up as front of jersey sponsors. We look forward to a long partnership doing many great things together as a team in the future.”
“We believe together this partnership will bring a stronger interest and wider awareness around the country to both the football club as well as Hamptons Homes and our previously established brands Hamptons Floor Store & Brooklyn Flooring.”
“We have huge belief in the team and the staff and have forged what we believe to be an invaluable relationship with the board members that can continue for many years.”
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Shelbourne CEO David O’Connor said: “I am absolutely delighted to have Hamptons Homes come on board as our Official Club Sponsor for the 2021 season. Hamptons Homes is a company who we are proud to be associated with and a company whom we have seen go from strength to strength as they continue to expand.
“I wanted to say a special thanks to Joe Prendergast and Kane Kearns, the Directors of Hamptons Homes, who have been nothing other than a pleasure to work with.
“Hamptons joined the club as a sponsor last year and their support was crucial for the club during what was a turbulent year financially.
“Kane and Joe are two incredibly passionate, driven and successful entrepreneurs and businessmen, as is evident with the success of Hamptons Homes.
“And having worked closely with them last season, I can also safely say that their passion and drive have also become incredibly evident to me as they have become proud partners and genuinely passionate supporters of Shels through their affiliation with Hamptons Homes.
“We are very excited to work side by side with Hamptons for the 2021 season and beyond.”
A winner last time out at Kelso when winning the Premier Chase over 2m7½, Cloth Cap is the firm favourite to land the Grand National to give his trainer a second win in the race with Don’t Push It winning it back in 2012 under AP McCoy. Tom Scudamore will take the ride on the favourite with Burrows Saint his closest rival in the betting.
The Willie Mullins trained 2019 BoyleSports Irish Grand National winner has the Aintree spectacle as his main target now for the past two years. Burrows Saint is the shortest priced runner at 9/1 for the Closutton trainer who has four horses in the race with Acapella Bourgeois 33/1, Class Conti 40/1 and Cabaret Queen 66/1.
The Colin Tizzard trained Mister Malarky has been backed into 33/1 from 40/1 with Jonjo O’Neill junior taking the ride over the 4m2½ trip. The talented Bristol De Mai heads the field with top weight and is a 22/1 chance to win for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Rachael Blackmore had a fantastic Cheltenham Festival and so did the Irish with Henry de Bromhead’s Minella Times backed into 10/1 from 12/1 to give the talented jockey/trainer duo a first win in the race.
Sarah Kinsella, Spokesperson for BoyleSports commented: “The field has been confirmed for the Grand National at Aintree this Saturday and it’s Cloth Cap who heads the market at 7/2. Burrows Saint is the best chance of an Irish winner according to the odds at 9/1 while Rachael Blackmore could make history on Minella Times at 10/1 from 12/1. It’s a tremendous line-up and we anticipate plenty more support to arrive for Rachael as punters are getting behind her more and more.”
END
Aintree 17:15 ~ Outright Betting, (place terms: 1/5 the first 7)
Star Irish rugby player Beibhinn Parsons is Beibhinn Parsons in Ireland Team to play Wales in Six Nations opener on Saturday.
Ballinasloe native Parsons will start at 11 and looks like the main source for scoring trys against the Welsh in a must-win game. The format this year leaves Ireland looking for a top-two finish to play at least the 3rd/4th playoff.
Head Coach Adam Griggs has named his Ireland Match Day 23 to face Wales in Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations game in Cardiff, with Sevens international Eve Higgins set for her XVs debut in the centre and uncapped backs Emily Lane and Stacey Flood included on the replacements bench.
Ireland will be captained by Ciara Griffin in the opening game of their 2021 Championship campaign at Cardiff Arms Park (Kick-off 5pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player), with Griggs’ starting XV showing three changes to the side that beat Italy at Energia Park last October.
Higgins, who has starred for Ireland on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in recent seasons, has impressed during Ireland’s preparations for the Six Nations and earns her debut cap in midfield alongside the experienced Sene Naoupu, while Sevens internationals Lane and Flood are included on the bench for their first taste of Championship action.
Eimear Considine returns to the full-back jersey as one of the three changes in personnel from the victory over Italy last time out, with Lauren Delany switching to the right wing and Beibhinn Parsons lining out on the left.
21-year-old Higgins, capped 20 times for Ireland Sevens, partners Naoupu in midfield, while the half-back pairing of Hannah Tyrrell and Kathryn Dane are retained having impressed against the Azzurri.
There is an unchanged front row named by Griggs as Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Linda Djougang once again pack down together, with the fit-again Aoife McDermott returning to the second row alongside Nichola Fryday.
Griffin leads the side from number eight, with Dorothy Wall set for her fifth cap at blindside flanker and Claire Molloy named at openside.
Uncapped duo Lane and Flood provide the half-back cover on the replacements bench, where they are joined by forwards Neve Jones, Katie O’Dwyer, Laura Feely, Brittany Hogan and Hannah O’Connor, with Enya Breen providing the additional backline cover.
Commenting on his selection, Head Coach Griggs says the competition for places within the squad has intensified in recent weeks as the squad stepped up their preparations at the IRFU High Performance Centre.
“We are extremely confident in the squad we have selected,” he said. “We have had a great deal of time to prepare together and this group of players have earned the responsibility to bring the high standards we have set ourselves throughout training into this first game.
“Wales at home will bring a strong challenge and we need to make sure we start the game well and build a platform that allows us to play our game and start this competition off with a win.”
Ireland’s opening game of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations is live on RTÉ and the RTÉ Player in the Republic of Ireland, while there is coverage on the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Website for supporters in the UK.
The Galway pentathlete, 27, Sive Brassil qualified for the women’s final at UIPM 2021 Pentathlon World Cup Sofia with plenty to spare.
She finished fourth in her qualification group with 1,002 points to rank fifth overall of 82 competing athletes, easily securing one of the 36 berths in the final on Friday (9 April).
Having finished 4th in her swimming heat with a time of 2:18.09, Brassil managed only 12 victories from her 25 fencing bouts, leaving herself with plenty to do in the Laser Run. But she responded in style in the final discipline, completing her four circuits in 12:54.60 – the second-fastest time in her qualification group.
Brassil’s Irish team-mate Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe will compete tomorrow (8 April) in a bid to reach the men’s final on Saturday (10 April).
For live competition coverage visit UIPM TV, the UIPM website or download the “UIPM Central” app.
Following a run of excellent results primarily at the Winter Equestrian Festival in Florida, several Irish Show Jumping riders have made big gains on the latest Longines FEI World Rankings released this week.
Reigning FEI Nations Cup champions Ireland pictured following victory in the 2020 FEI Nations Cup final in Barcelona (ESP) in 2020. (L to R) Paul O’Shea, Peter Moloney, Rodrigo Pessoa, Darragh Kenny and Cian O’Connor. (Photo: Sonya Hennessy)
Offaly’s Darragh Kenny remains the highest-ranked Irish rider at No.9, while Cork’s Shane Sweetnam has climbed five places to No.26. Tipperary’s Denis Lynch is at No.29, with Wexford’s Bertram Allen now at No.35. Limerick’s Paul O’Shea is at No.39, with Derry’s Daniel Coyle also inside the top 50 at No.44.
Among the 12 Irish riders inside the top 100, Meath’s Cian O’Connor has made the biggest gain, moving up a massive 49 places to No.74. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat remains the World No.1, just ahead of Germany’s Daniel Deusser at No.2.
The Eventing and Dressage World Rankings remain largely unchanged after a period of limited competition activity. Galway’s Cathal Daniels remains Ireland’s top-ranked Eventing rider at No.14, while Kildare’s Judy Reynolds is Ireland’s highest-placed Dressage rider at No.22.
One runner who will be making his debut over Aintree’s unique Grand National fences is the Paul Nolan-trained Discorama, fancied by many to run a big race and currently trading at around 18-1.
The eight year old has placed on three separate occasions at the Cheltenham Festival during his career and while Nolan conceded that he is frustrated not to have won more races with his charge, he is hopeful of a good run here.
He said: “It’s a bit frustrating that the horse has only won twice in his life (considering his talent), he’s won a maiden hurdle and a beginners’ chase, and yet he’s so nearly won some nice races.
“We’ll be dropped out and we’ll hunt him around and hope to God he’ll get into the race at some stage and we’ll take it from there, but you never know with the National. You’re happy if you’re still there with a circuit to go, but hopefully we’ll get a bit of luck.
“We hope he’s in good form and hopefully he gives Tom Friel and Andrew Gemmell (owners) a good run for their money. So many people spend so much money to just have a runner in the National. This horse was an inexpensive purchase and he’s given the boys some great days out, so they wouldn’t swap him for anything.”
Leinster and Ulster continue their European adventures on Saturday with the pair facing Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints in the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup, respectively.
Leinster will have fresh legs after a week off courtesy of a positive Toulon coronavirus test which led to the four-time Champions Cup winners being awarded a bye.
Johnny Sexton may return after failing his head injury assessment against Munster in the Pro14 final, but Leinster has strength in depth if he does not make the squad with the Byrne brothers on the books.
The mix of rising stars and established veterans as players like Rhys Ruddock and Scott Penny have shone for the provincial outfit this season.
Exeter Chiefs will look to continue the defense of their European title against Ireland’s European giants.
Rob Baxter’s men have not looked as strong as last season with three losses in their last seven games but will be fired up at the chance to make a statement against Ireland’s only side remaining in European competition.
The Chiefs’ seven-try showing at home to Lyon in their most recent game, however, could be a taster of what is to come this weekend at Sandy Park.
Later that night in the Challenge Cup, Northampton Saints will host Ulster, who are looking to win their first Challenge Cup in their first-ever Challenge Cup campaign.
Both sides have a history of success in Europe with two Champions Cups between them.
The teams have fallen from the top tier of Europe’s elite but will look to move a step closer to regaining that status with a win on Saturday night.
The Saints came from behind to steal the game from the Dragons at Rodney Parade last weekend, but they will need to iron out their inconsistency if they are to topple Dan McFarland’s Ulster.
The former Scotland assistant coach has Ulster on a positive trajectory as they are now challenging for silverware on a consistent basis.
Having finished runners-up in the Pro 14’s Conference A, the northern province will want to take advantage of the opportunity they have to earn their first piece of silverware in 15 years.
An eight-try rout of Harlequins displayed the attacking rugby that the Ulstermen are capable of, but they may find it tougher against Lewis Ludlam and co. this weekend.
Exeter Chiefs and Leinster kick-off at 5:30 pm on Saturday with Ulster’s game against Northampton starting later at 8 pm.
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