3 minute read
Willie Mullins set a new record for winning-most trainer in the County Hurdle, as classy flat performer Absurde took a record-extending seventh victory under jockey Paul Townend.
Seventh in the Melbourne Cup in November, Absurde finished a good fourth in the Grade 1 two mile novice hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival behind stablemate Ballyburn on his return to hurdles. He was kept near the back of the field by jockey Paul Townend and although it appeared Dan Skelton may have another handicap winner with L'eau Du Sud, Absurde cruised alongside the grey with a late run to secure the win. Pied Piper finished third with Magical Zoe back in fourth.
Willie Mullins said: "I'm just happy to win that for the H O S Syndicate. Andrew Heffernan is the only one here, as the others didn't travel.
"What a rider that man is. There can't be one bit of warm blood in his veins - it's all cold I'd say. To ride it the way he rode it - to me that's the ride of the week. I said that to Paul and he said 'so far!' but it'll be hard to beat that I think. Then he questioned me and said he was wondering what we guys did in Australia (in the Melbourne Cup). How he got beat there I don't know, but we'd like to go back. I'm not sure of the conditions there but he ran so well. He had to win the Ebor to qualify last year, and I don't know how long that qualification lasts for, so it might be tough, but we might get a special dispensation. We'll apply anyway!
"It was Paul's idea to be that far back, but if you remember when he won it on Arctic Fire it was a similar story. If you go back and look at County Hurdles for Paul he's done it before, and they tend to come from the back in this race.
"Absurde will mix it on the Flat and over hurdles, and to win here on this ground was a huge bonus. He's a hell of a horse for a syndicate to have. He can pitch up at any of the festivals, Flat or jumping."
In an interview with ITV Racing, jockey Paul Townend said: ""I got a lot of satisfaction out of that one to tell you the truth! What a horse to have travelled the world and come back and put in a performance like that on that ground.
"We hacked, but I suppose that probably got them racing early enough because everyone was aware that they set off going so slow and wanted to get in a position. I thought I had the pace of them all on his Flat form and if he handled the ground, he had a good chance. But the ground was a big worry."
Asked if it was nice to ride one with less pressure, compared to the big short-priced favourites he is on this week, he said: "It was. I was able to go out and take a chance. It's nice to be able to do that from time to time."
