WILLIE MULLINS unleashed his latest superstar at Punchestown – with the well-bred Maugheen labelled an ‘absolute frigging’ tank by impressed punters.
One swooned ‘I’m in love’ after seeing the relative of the awesome Faugheen bolt up in a mares’ bumper.
Maughreen is a relative of the incredible Rich Ricci-owned FaugheenSportsfile – Subscription
Maughreen was immediately slashed to 10-1 from 20s for the Champion Bumper, where great rival Gordon Elliott has the other two at the top of the market.
But his Romeo Coolio, a £420,000 purchase, didn’t have punters purring like this after his debut on Sunday.
In a slowly run race he was always doing enough to triumph at Fairyhouse despite an alarming drift before the odd.
There were no such concerns for Maughreen though, whose unraced dam was a half-sister to Champion Hurdle superstar Faugheen, dubbed ‘the machine’.
Sent off 1-2, Patrick Mullins didn’t move on the five-year-old mare who is owned by Closutton Racing Club.
Reacting to her devastating performance, one punter said: “Maughreen the Machine. Related to Faugheen. Looks like Faugheen. A weapon like Faugheen. I’m in love.”
Another wrote: “Put Maughreen in your notebook. Absolute frigging tank.”
One comment read: “Maughreen made that look effortless.”
While another said: “I’m trying to be sceptical… but I don’t think I can. Really like her.”
A fellow Twitter user posted: “Easy as you like from Maughreen in the bumper at Punchestown. If she can jump a hurdle anything like her relative Faugheen, then we really could have a star on our hands.”
BoyleSports made her 8-1 third fav for the Champion Bumper.
Elliott’s Jalon D’oudairies, another £420,000 purchase for Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary, is joint 6-1 fav with them.
Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “While she has a long way to go to match the exploits of her half-brother Faugheen, Maughreen started her career off in perfect style at Punchestown.
“She eased clear in the hands of Patrick Mullins and is now 8-1 from 20-1 for Cheltenham’s Champion Bumper.”
But speaking to Irishracing afterwards, Mullins Jnr didn’t mention Cheltenham when talking of future targets.
He said: “Her work was good, but that is probably even better than what she was doing at home.
“With that pedigree the owners are entitled to get more than a bit excited.
“We’ll go for black type bumpers and everything is on the table. The Dublin Racing Festival might come a bit soon and there is Fairyhouse, Punchestown and Aintree.
“I think she is entitled to take her chance.”
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