Michael Verney: Willie Mullins’ mares to do the business as Punchestown comes to a close

Be it the Grade One exploits of Spillane’s Tower or Fastorslow – as Jimmy Mangan and Martin Brassil enjoyed a well-earned day in the sun – more records for Willie Mullins or successful British raids, there has been no shortage of talking points at the Kildare track.

Today is unlikely to be any different as the meeting, and indeed the season, comes to a close with a pair of Grade One contests leading the action, headed by the Mares Champion Hurdle (3.42)

Interestingly, all five runners met in the Cheltenham equivalent in March where they finished in this order: Lossiemouth (first), Telmesomethinggirl (second), Hispanic Moon (third), Gala Marceau (sixth) and Ashroe Diamond (pulled up).

​Lossiemouth, partnered by Paul Townend, is being touted as a live contender for next year’s Champion Hurdle, and rightfully so on her two starts this season as the six-year-old twice scored impressively at the Cotswolds.

The grey has only suffered defeat once in her career – and there were genuine excuses for that – so it will be interesting to see whether she can swim with big fish like State Man and Constitution Hill next season.

Willie Mullins will be crowned Irish champion jumps trainer for an 18th time today and the Closutton man has landed eight of the last ten renewals, with 1/4 favourite Lossiemouth leading a three-pronged attack. It’s a straight shoot-out between Mullins and Henry de Bromhead for the €125,000 prize, with the Waterford trainer saddling the other two runners and Cheltenham placings are not expected to change much,

It should be a race for second between Telmesomethinggirl and Grade One winner Ashroe Diamond – this is her last race as she is in foal to Blue Bresil – but the former can again prove next best under Rachael Blackmore with Lossiemouth a class apart.

Again, Mullins has won eight of the last ten runnings of the Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (4.50). Three of those occasions have been with fillies and he sends another smart one into battle this time around.

Kargese has danced every dance this season, having appeared at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival, the Dublin Racing Festival as well as Cheltenham and Aintree in the spring so she is bidding to finish a busy season in style.

Already a Grade One winner at Leopardstown, she was second to stablemate Majborough in the Triumph Hurdle before chasing home Sir Gino at Liverpool.

The best could still be yet to come from Townend’s mount if she continues to learn on the job.

“Kargese has some engine, she pulls so hard. We’re going to have to change a few things about her, as if we can get her to settle in a race, she is a real machine, I’d say,” Mullins said in recent weeks.

Her 7lbs sex allowance makes her an even more exciting punting prospect, and a rock-solid favourite.

However, she will be given plenty to think about by the unbeaten Bottler’secret, winner of a Grade Two at Fairyhouse on his last start.

Gavin Cromwell’s charge, also very useful on the Flat, is the one that could potentially improve beyond them all in time but experience is on the side of Kargese and she can put that to good use in an intriguing renewal.

Racing tipster Michael Verney had a brilliant day at Punchestown yesterday with Brides Hill (15/8), Its On The Line (6/4), Jetara e/w (16/1) and Don'tstopthemusic (5/2) all obliging for followers of the Irish Independent.