Willie Mullins Ends The Punchestown Festival On A High

The Punchestown Festival should be renamed the Willie Mullins Festival. What a week it has been for the champion trainer and indeed racing fans who travelled from far and wide to see the action.

We were treated to a star-studded week. On Tuesday we had Sprinter Sacre, on Wednesday we had Sir Des Champs, on Thursday we had Quevega and yesterday, we were treated to a scintillating performance from Hurricane Fly.

Today the betting is relatively quieter with the absence of Triumph Hurdle winner Our Conor, but punters took comfort from the fact that Willie Mullins came back for a fifth day in-a-row to demolish the bookies.

He recorded his 200th win of the season when Diakali claimed the Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle, and the well backed Glens Melody also ensured punters had another day of celebrations.

It’s been a long but very enjoyable week and tonight I shall be raising my glass to Mr Mullins, who has pretty much paid for my drinks for the foreseeable future! As the Irish say…Sláinte!