RACENEWS RACECOURSE SERVICE
GOLD CUP DAY, FRIDAY, MARCH 13
Vic's victory is a record eighth winner for Mullins
Killultagh Vic's pulsating triumph in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle by a head from Noble Endeavour was trainer Willie Mullins' eighth win of the 2015 Festival. This is a new record of training wins at the meeting; Mullins has now overtaken Nicky Henderson's record of seven, set in 2012.
Killultagh Vic was ridden by Luke Dempsey, and Mullins was keen to deflect praise of his own achievement on to the young jockey.
"It's magic, but I thought young Luke gave the horse a fantastic ride. He was beat but he just pulled it out of the fire.
"It's his first ride for me as far as I can remember. We thought the horse was working well at home; the only thing is that he's not a great jumper so I told Luke to try to get him jumping. He kept him out wide and got a bit of nicer ground.
"He's a strong young rider who uses his head and he's been riding out of his skin for the past few weeks, and we were lucky that he was free. A good rider in this race makes a huge difference. I used to ride with his father, Philip Dempsey, so I am delighted to put him up on a winner.
Commenting on his achievement of setting a new training record for The Festival, Mullins said: "We've brought over lots of horses, but it's so hard and so competitive here, it's unbelievable. But we've had a fantastic spring and didn't have any issues with any of the horses, who have been able to have a great preparation, and it's all working out now. It's fantastic."
Dempsey wins first Festival race
Luke Dempsey, 18, rode his first winner at The Festival when winning the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle on Killultagh Vic.
The winner took trainer Willie Mullins to a record eighth success at one Festival, beating the tally set by Nicky Henderson in 2012.
Dempsey, whose mount won by a head from Noble Endeavour, said: "I'm feeling unreal - it will take a while to sink in. I'm so grateful to Willie Mullins and the owners for putting me up.
"The last two weeks have been brilliant for me and that was my sixth winner in that period. I took my time and got the horse jumping, and going downhill he was running away. Perhaps I got there a bit too soon, and the second eyeballed me up the straight, but he battled back. I wasn't sure whether I'd won or not crossing the line, so it was a great relief when they announced the result.
"Willie told me he wasn't the most natural jumper, and he made a few little mistakes, but all in all he jumped very well."
Dempsey took an interest in racing through his father, Philip, who rode winners as an amateur. Luke spent two years with Johnny Murtagh as an apprentice on the Flat, riding 18 winners in that time, and has now added another 15 over jumps. "As long as I can remember riding in races was all I wanted to do," he said. This time last year I had not ridden over jumps, so this is a great thrill."
4.40pm Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle
50,000 total prize fund. For 4yo+, rated 0-145, 2m 4f 110y. Weights: highest weight 11st 10lb; minimum weight 10st. Penalties after February 22nd, a winner of a hurdle 5lb. Allowances riders who, prior to March 10th, 2015, have not ridden more than 20 winners 3lb; 10 such winners 5lb; Penalty value 1st £31,280.00 2nd £9,240.00 3rd £4,620.00 4th £2,310.00 5th £1,155.00 6th £580.00
1) KILLULTAGH VIC (IRE) (Rose Boyd, B Anderson, A Armstrong) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-01 Luke Dempsey 7/1
2) NOBLE ENDEAVOR (IRE) (Chris Jones) Gordon Elliott IRE p6-11-06 Kevin Sexton 14/1
3) ROI DES FRANCS (FR) (Gigginstown House Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 6-11-05 David Mullins 3/1f
4) KAUTO GRAND MOGOL (FR) (J Delamere, D McCorkell, H Catherwood) Liz Doyle IRE t7-11-01 Jodie McGarvey 33/1
5) SHELFORD (IRE) (Carl Hodgson) Dan Skelton p6-11-05 Matt Griffiths
6) PEARL SWAN (FR) (Robin Geffen) Paul Nicholls t7-11-04 Jack Sherwood
7) LE MERCUREY (FR) (Chris Giles & Colm Donlon) Paul Nicholls t5-11-10 Sean Bowen
8) FULL SHIFT (FR) (J P McManus) Nicky Henderson 6-11-01 Nico de Boinville
9) JOLLY'S CRACKED IT (FR) (GDM Partnership) Harry Fry 6-11-06 Micheal Nolan
10) VIEUX LION ROUGE (FR) (Prof Caroline Tisdall & John Gent) David Pipe bt6-11-06 Kieron Edgar
11) MCKINLEY (Gigginstown House Stud) Willie Mullins IRE 5-11-02 Johnny Burke
12) ON TOUR (IRE) (T Hywel-Jones) Evan Williams 7-11-04 Conor Ring
13) BARIZAN (IRE) (Peter Conway) Brendan Powell vt9-11-04 Thomas Garner
14) CONQUISTO (Phil Martin) Brian Ellison t10-11-03 Craig Gallagher (3)
15) FORTHEFUNOFIT (IRE) (J P McManus) Jonjo O'Neill 6-10-10 Patrick Cowley (5)
16) SLEEPY HAVEN (IRE) (Alan Baxter, Anthony Bloor & Dave Cheetham) Jennie Candlish t5-11-06 Trevor Whelan
17) MACNICHOLSON (IRE) (J P O'Flaherty) Jessica Harrington IRE p6-11-05 Ger Fox
18) PARTY ROCK (IRE) (Pam Beardmore) Jennie Candlish 8-11-05 Patrick Corbett
19) ALDERBROOK LAD (IRE) (Masters Of The Hall) Micky Hammond 9-11-01 Joe Colliver
DNF) EDEYMI (IRE) (Gigginstown House Stud) Tony Martin IRE t7-11-01 Shane Shortall
DNF) BORDONI (USA) (Bloomfields) John Ferguson v6-11-01 Conor Shoemark
Fell 2nd) BALGARRY (FR) (Brocade Racing) David Pipe t8-10-12 Michael Heard (3)
22 ran
Non-runners: Peckhamecho (going), Royal Irish Hussar (going)
Distances: hd, 4½, 6, ¾, 1¾, ½, 14, 2¾, sh, 5, 1½, nse, ½, nk, 1½, 24, 1¼, 6
Breeder: F Boyd
Breeding: b g Old Vic - Killultagh Dawn (IRE) (Phardante (FR))
Tote Win £8.50 Place £2.20 £3.30 £1.70 £6.90 Exacta £123.10
Winning Trainer: WILLIE MULLINS Date of Birth: 15/9/56 Based: Closutton, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow Background: Willie Mullins was six-times amateur champion rider in Ireland and his major successes in the saddle included the 1983 John Smith's Fox Hunters' Chase at Aintree on Atha Cliath, before taking out a training licence in 1988. He hails from one of Ireland's most famous racing families, being a son of Paddy Mullins, the now retired outstanding all-round trainer, whose most famous star was Dawn Run, winner of the 1984 Champion Hurdle and Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later. Willie Mullins rode and trained Wither Or Which to win the 1996 Weatherbys Champion Bumper. Mullins has over 100 horses at his Closutton yard near Bagenalstown in Co Carlow. He was crowned both Champion and Leading Trainer in Ireland for the first time in the 2007/08 season and has retained the title since. Cheltenham Festival wins (41): Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle (2010 Thousand Stars, 2011 Final Approach, 2015 Wicklow Brave), OLBG Mares Hurdle (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014 Quevega, 2015 Glens Melody), Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (2008 Fiveforthree, 2009 Mikael D'Haguenet, 2014 Faugheen), Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle (1995 Tourist Attraction, 2007 Ebaziyan, 2013 Champagne Fever, 2014 Vautour, 2015 Douvan), RSA Chase (1998 Florida Pearl, 2004 Rule Supreme, 2009 Cooldine, 2015 Don Poli), Weatherbys Champion Bumper (1996 Wither Or Which, 1997 Florida Pearl, 1998 Alexander Banquet, 2000 Joe Cullen, 2005 Missed That, 2008 Cousin Vinny, 2012 Champagne Fever, 2013 Briar Hill), JCB Triumph Hurdle (2002 Scolardy), Stan James Champion Hurdle (2011 & 2013 Hurricane Fly, 2015 Faugheen), Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2011 Sir Des Champs, 2014 Don Poli, 2015 Killultagh Vic), JLT Novices' Chase (2012 Sir Des Champs, 2015 Vautour), National Hunt Chase (2013 Back In Focus), Racing Post Arkle (2015 Un De Sceaux) Number of Winners in Britain (2001/02-2013/14): 4; 1; 1; 2; 0; 1; 2; 3; 2; 4; 5; 6; 11 Wins in Britain this season: 15 - Eighth winner at the 2015 Festival - a new record at a single Festival.
Winning Jockey: Luke Dempsey Born: July 11, 1996 Background: son of ex-amateur jockey turned trainer Philip Dempsey. Apprenticed to Johnny Murtagh for two years. Now rides over Jumps as well as on the Flat. First winner over Jumps: On My Own, Killarney, handicap hurdle, August 22, 2014 Cheltenham Festival wins (1): Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle (2015 Killultagh Vic) Wins in Britain this season: 1
