Record November: Mullins continues to source stars from pointing fields

The record-breaking success of Irish point-to-point graduates throughout the month of November, with 196 victories, a never before reached total throughout that month, has produced a number of notable discussion points.

From the monopoly of Grade 1’s following the wins for Road To Respect and Lostintranslation, to the success achieved by the many value buys which can still be found within the sport.

Having saddled no fewer than nine individual former pointers to success during the month of November, the continued riches that champion trainer Willie Mullins continues to source from within point-to-points, a trend which has crossed a number of decades, is similarly worthy of focus.

Only two of the newer players to the top of the training ranks, Gordon Elliott (13) and Dan Skelton (11), sent out more winning point-to-pointers during the month, however Mullins’ track record of successes has run in tandem with his position at the top of the sport.

From the nine-time Grade 1 winner Florida Pearl to Champion Hurdler Faugheen and Champion Chaser Champagne Fever, a cursory look at some of his leading lights that have emerged from this arena also includes the likes of Missed That, Cooldine, Faugheen, Ballycasey, Shaneshill, Yorkhill, On His Own, Killultagh Vic, Snowy Morning, Quel Espirit, Clondaw Warrior, Briar Hill, Boston Bob and of note more recently, the reigning Irish Gold Cup champion Bellshill.

His November winners featured a mix of old and new, with proven Grade 1 winners and exciting prospects for the future.

Champion hurdler Faugheen won his first races over fences at Punchestown since winning his point-to-point for Andy Slattery, former dual Grade 2 winner Getabird made a winning seasonal bow, whilst Bacardys overturned the odds-on favourite Apple’s Jade in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle at Navan.

A further four of those winners came in bumpers with some of his latest purchases from pointing – Aione, The Big Getaway, Asterion Forlonges and Tactical Move, with the latter trio all now running in the colours of Gold Cup winning owners Joe and Marie Donnelly.

In all since the start of the 2019/20 season up to November 28th, Mullins sent out 17 point-to-point graduates, 13 of which returned successful for a 76% strike rate.

Only the four winners from five horses sourced off the flat in Britain, bettered that strike rate in a comparison against Mullins horses recruited from France, store sales, British point-to-points, privately, breeders, Irish flat racing, and yearling sales.

The quality of those performers this season also ranks highly and compares very favourably when examined against their stable companions that were sourced from those other areas.

Those 17 Irish point-to-pointers which he campaigned during that period, have an average RPR rating of 134. A figure only bettered by the two Irish flat recruits (136) and eight sourced from store sales (136).