WILLIE MULLINS has been sent a ‘seriously promising’ Cheltenham-winning horse – after his last trainer shut down his yard with immediate effect.
Seven-year-old Brechin Castle was a Listed bumper winner at the home of jumps in November 2023.
Brechin Castle scooted up in a Listed Cheltenham bumper and has now gone to Willie Mullins after his previous trainer closed his yard
PAWillie Mullins has an exciting novice hurdle prospect on his hands for the same owner who previously won the Supreme with Summerville Boy[/caption]
He won that contest on the back of demolishing rivals by 14 lengths on his rules debut at Sedgefield the month before.
Brechin Castle, who is owned by Ben’s dad Roger, was then sent to Ascot for another Listed bumper but could only finish second after being sent off the 9-4 favourite and giving winner Let It Rain 11lbs.
He hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since and would presumably go novice hurdling as an eight-year-old.
And he could have no better trainer for the job after winging his way over to Closutton.
Brookhouse – whose dad owned 2018 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Summerville Boy and 2014 Arkle king Western Warhorse – has closed his Newmarket yard and got rid of all his horses.
The dual purpose handler will relaunch his operation in Warwick next year but do so without his stable star, who is described as having a ‘sparkling turn of foot’.
He told the Racing Post: “My Dad has horses with Henry de Bromhead and Willie Mullins in Ireland, and I think Brechin Castle is going to Willie.
“He had a setback when being prepared for Cheltenham last year.
“We’ve given him plenty of time so hopefully he can come back to his best.”
A Shantou gelding from the same sire as Grade 1 winners The Storyteller, Stay Away Fay and Death Duty, Brechin Castle would likely be one of the oldest novices next season.
Although his family history would suggest he’s a stayer – damsire Old Vic had Gold Cup winner Kicking King and Grand National hero Don’t Push It – his bumper wins show he has the speed for two miles.
The last eight-year-old to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle was the Christy Roche-trained and Charlie Swan-ridden Like-A-Butterfly in 2002.
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