King Rasko Grey Wins Turners Novices' Hurdle for Record-Extending Mullins

Willie Mullins couldn't believe his eyes in the betting ring, and by the time Paul Townend had steered King Rasko Grey clear of the final flight at Prestbury Park, the bookmakers couldn't believe theirs either. The six-year-old romped to a two-and-a-half-length victory in the Grade 1 Turners Novices' Hurdle on Ladies Day at the Cheltenham Festival, handing Mullins a record-extending eighth win in the race at the 11/1 starting price that left his trainer astonished.

"I couldn't believe he was 11/1," Mullins said. "People were asking me for one under the radar and I never dreamt he would be anything like 11/1. You never have a banker coming to Cheltenham, but I thought he would be one of the ones that would be 2/1 or 3/1 max after his run at Leopardstown. I wasn't tipping him to my friends as I thought he'd be too short for them — they're all very poor!"

Act Of Innocence, trained by Nicky Henderson and carrying the Gordon and Su Hall colours also worn by Tuesday's Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Old Park Star, finished second at 10/1 after locking horns with King Rasko Grey entering the home straight. Zeus Power, a 50/1 shot, stayed on into third close home. Paul Nicholls' 5/2 favourite No Drama This End never threatened to land a blow in the 21-runner field and was pulled up before the final flight.

The victory was particularly significant given what King Rasko Grey had done to earn his place in the Cheltenham market. He had finished a close-up third behind Talk The Talk in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, a blanket finish that left questions over his ceiling. Mullins had believed the step up in trip at Prestbury Park would unlock more, and it did emphatically. "I said after Leopardstown that he would step forward," Mullins noted. "I thought he was a little short going into that and I expected him to improve."

Townend, the choice of the Closutton stable from a six-strong team, had no hesitation about which horse to partner. Mullins confirmed the decision was instantaneous: "I think Paul chose to ride this horse straight away, there was no debate, and I thought the same — to me this fellow was head and shoulders above a lot of the horses here."

King Rasko Grey carried the brown and yellow quartered silks of owner Audrey Turley, colours most closely associated with dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Galopin des Champs. A late setback had ruled Galopin des Champs out of the entire Festival earlier in the week, so the Turners triumph provided timely consolation. "It's great for the Turleys after the disappointment with Galopin Des Champs earlier in the week," Mullins said. "It's fantastic for them to have a winner here."

Henderson was measured but optimistic about Act Of Innocence, pointing to a long future ahead for the runner-up. "He got a nice run up the inside there and he maybe did put his head in front briefly, but he's done nothing wrong and he's a lovely, big horse who can only improve, as is the case with yesterday's horse Old Park Star — they're big, chasing type of horses," Henderson said. He suggested both Old Park Star and Act Of Innocence would now be put away for the season: "I think it's holiday time for both of them — I don't think they need to do that again."

As for King Rasko Grey's own future, Mullins is already thinking beyond hurdles. "I actually thought he could be a Champion Hurdle type. I don't know whether he is or not and I'm sure he'll jump a fence, but we'll have a look at his Champion Hurdle credentials first." With an eighth Turners title secured and a horse operating well beneath his market expectations, Mullins left Cheltenham's Ladies Day with both a record and a genuine staying novice to plot a path around next season.