Mullins teams up with powerful owners for Classic tilt as runner backed

Willie Mullins teams up with powerful owners Wathnan Racing as Lope De Lilas aims to give the Closutton handler his second Classic success this weekend.

James Doyle put the finishing touches to Lope De Lilas’ Irish Oaks preparation on Tuesday morning with the Mullins-trained three-year-old just 9/2 with BoyleSports to land the fillies’ Classic after support from punters.

Mullins reigned supreme in the jumps division last season, claiming the champion trainer title in both Ireland and the UK, and the Closutton maestro now turns his attention to the flat as he bids to land the second Classic of his glittering career.

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Wicklow Brave provided the Carlow-based yard with huge victory in the Irish Leger in 2016 under Frankie Dettori and Lope De Lilas is set to become their first runner in the Irish Oaks. An impressive winner of a Leopardstown maiden, the daughter of Lope De Vega was snapped up by Wathnan Racing as the Emir of Qatar continues to bolster his interests in racing and has been backed from 9/1 into 9/2 to land the operation’s first Classic.

Ribblesdale winner Port Fairy is the 11/4 market leader to provide Aidan O’Brien with an eighth winner in the race while Dare To Dream flies the flag for France at 15/2 after a close fifth in the Prix De Diane last time out.

There is also likely to be a strong raiding party from across the Irish Sea, with Roger Varian’s Eljaabiyah high on the shortlist of punters at 8/1 and David Menuisier’s War Chimes, who finished third at Epsom, also fancied at the same price.

Brian O’Keeffe, spokesperson for BoyleSports, said: “The Irish Oaks has an international feel to it this year, but the market suggests that the winner could hail from Closutton. Racing royalty combine as jumps King Willie Mullins and the Qatari backed Wathnan Racing join forces and the support is starting to gather momentum behind their runner, Lope De Lilas.”

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