Mullins Starting Early

September 21st

Willie Mullins doesn't usually like to get his top young prospects out until at least mid November so it was with interest that the likes of Bachasson and Long Dog won at the Galway Festival (and again subsequently) and he also saddled two very impressive winners at the Listowel Festival in Gangster and Augusta Kate. Gangster was having his third run for Mullins and Gigginstown since moving from France last spring but was an odds-on failure at Galway after he won his maiden hurdle but this was much more like it and I particularly like the way that he jumped his hurdles. He looked a bit like Bacchanal, the former World Hurdle winner of Nicky Henderson's.

Augusta Kate impressed me more though winning by 23l on her bumper debut. A daughter of the top class Feathard Lady and owned by Lee Westwood, Alan Shearer and Ant & Dec amongst others, I don't want to sound like I am getting ahead of myself but the way she scampered clear after rounding the home turn reminded me a little of Quevega in her younger years with the way her little legs were rotating like a hamster on a wheel. She could go hurdling this season according to connections and in that instance it is not hard to imagine her being aimed the new Mares' Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival this season, especially given her high-profile, British owners.