Willie Mullins felt beforehand that he had a fair chance of winning his second King George VI Chase here. What scarcely crossed his mind was that it might arrive thanks to Tornado Flyer and his nephew, Danny Mullins, who came home nine lengths clear of Clan Des Obeaux at 28-1, the biggest starting price for a winner in the race's 84-year history.
“I was totally surprised,” Mullins, who watched the race at Leopardstown, said. "John Turner, who has a share in the horse, was on to me to bring him over because he wanted a runner at Kempton on Boxing Day, and I said: 'Why not?' But I didn't dream we were going for a win. The instructions I gave Danny were to ride from the back and get all the prize money you can."
Several of the favourites, including Minella Indo, last season's Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, and Chantry House, the 3-1 favourite, were well below their best but there was no real sense of fluke about Tornado Flyer's success and he probably had the race already won when Asterion Forlonge, the first string in the Mullins team, fell at the last when he still had at least two lengths to find.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 27, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin December 27, 2021 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Armstrong's panache condemns Leeds to yet more playoff agony
Southampton's squad ventured to the Isle of Wight for a get-together at the end of the regular season, where the majority owner, Dragan Solak, who dragged his fingernails down his face during the final minutes at Wembley, promised they would have the party of their lives if they sealed promotion.
Unqualified setback for Draper after battling back in vain against De Jong
Briton recovers from two sets down but still goes out in first round to world No 176
Leinster must tear up script to end final pain next year
Third successive Champions Cup defeat exposed a defensive obsession coupled with a lack of imagination
Peaking for Paris Perspective and staying in present are vital to athletes' Olympic planning
I remember friends asking me before the 2004 Athens Games if I was really digging in and putting in extra miles now the Olympics were just round the corner.
"There's hate on all sides' Cracks in Israeli unity as conflict drags on
In a video filmed in what appears to be a burnt-out building in Gaza, with Hebrew graffiti referring to Meir Kahane, an infamous Jewish supremacist, a masked soldier addresses Israel's defence minister.
"They hold all the cards' Purge of Russia's top defence figures shows FSB's growing power
In the weeks since Vladimir Putin sacked his longtime defence minister Sergei Shoigu, Russia's FSB security service has pursued a series of corruption cases against a deputy minister and department heads in what many are calling a purge in the defence ministry.
Relaxation of childcare staffing ratios 'has put toddlers at greater risk'
Toddlers have been \"sold out\" to balance the books of the government's childcare bill, according to nursery providers, who say young children have been put at risk by changes in supervision rules.
Historic role New mayor defies racist threats to serve Derry
Lilian Seenoi-Barr will make history on 3 June when she receives the chain of office at Derry's guildhall and becomes Northern Ireland's first black mayor.
DWP carer scandal 85-year-old is told to pay back £13,000
Sia Kasparis, 85, was in her hospital bed in the living room of her small north London flat when there was a knock at the door.
Deaf people miss out on NHS care because of poor access
NHS England has been accused of \"dragging its feet\" on new accessibility procedures, leaving disabled people struggling to get healthcare.
