BOOKIES have quickly removed a £200,000 Willie Mullins horse from their Cheltenham Festival markets.
The genius Irish trainer was said to ‘absolutely love’ five-year-old mare Karma d’Airy.
GettyWillie Mullins is amazing with his mares but saw bookies pull one from their Cheltenham Festival ante-post markets altogether after her debut[/caption]
Owned by the Roaringwater Syndicate, the former French runner was a 16-1 chance for the ultra competitive Mares’ Novice Hurdle.
THE SUN RACING MEMBERS ENCLOSURE
The only place to get Templegate’s tips first – and at the best prices – is by joining Sun Racing’s brilliant Members Enclosure.
Sign up now for just £1* to be part of racing’s best winning team and get…
Four free racing tickets, four times a year – worth £300
Templegate’s daily tips at the BEST prices before anyone else
Exclusive access to Templegate’s daily NAP
Tomorrow’s copy of The Favourite at 9pm today
Exclusive insights from top trainer Ben Pauling
VIP competitions from Racing Breaks each month
Become a member today for just £1*
*For the first month then £3 per month thereafter.
18+ Ts and Cs apply. First month membership £1, then £3 per month unless you cancel at least 7 days before your next billing date. For more information contact [email protected]
But she has been pulled completely by Paddy Power after her debut under Mullins at Clonmel on Wednesday.
Sent off 1-2 favourite for a 2m1f maiden hurdle, Karma d’Airy was ridden wide throughout by Paul Townend.
Two flights from home she was being niggled along and ultimately finished third, beaten a whopping 26-and-a-half lengths.
Paddy Power traders decided to remove the horse from their ante-post market on the back of the horror run.
A statement read: “Paddy has taken Karma d’Airy out of the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle as we believe her unlikely to go to Cheltenham.”
Speaking afterwards, Townend said: “I was never happy on her. That’s not her true running.
“I wasn’t getting the feel I thought I’d get from her.”
The defeat will be a bitter pill to swallow for Mullins given he had won four of the past five runnings of the race.
Among those was 2022 winner Dinoblue, who went onto finish ninth in the Mares’ Novice before finishing runner-up on her next two visits to the Festival.
Mullins has farmed the Mares’ Novice, winning it five years in a row from 2016.
But it’s been divvied up between Henry de Bromhead, Harry Fry, Jamie Snowden and Jeremy Scott since then.
Mullins still has the favourite for this year’s renewal in the shape of 5-1 Maughreen.
She hasn’t been seen since winning a bumper by 11 lengths in January but is said to be nearing a return to the track.
He also has 14-1 Baby Kate, who turned over a 1-100 in-running good thing on her most recent performance.
While Karoline Banbo is a 16-1 chance for the same race.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. gambleaware.org.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
Never chases their losses
Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
