Casey: The Closutton Machine Is Busy & We've Got a Good Bunch of Young Horses This Year

David Casey | Willie Mullins | Closutton | Jumps Season | Horse Racing | Down Royal

As the Jumps season gets underway, Willie Mullins ' assistant and right-hand man David Casey spoke in an exclusive interview with BOYLE Sports to preview the campaign.

As a key player in the Closutton machine, Casey is uniquely positioned to give the lowdown on how the yard is shaping up, revealing a settled string of around 250 horses bolstered by a strong intake of younger recruits.

Casey has also detailed where the yard is scouring for new talent, assessed the fast start off the back of a brilliant Galway and Listowel , picked out Mighty Park and He's On Fire as exciting chasing recruits, and revealed his personal Five to Follow for the campaign ahead.

The Numbers

How Many Horses Are in the Yard?

The numbers are probably the same as we've had for the last few years. It's probably 250 on average, and we've been at that number for a while. So, it hasn't changed, hasn't gone up or come down. But it's pretty busy, let me tell you.

How Many New Recruits and Outgoing Horses Have There Been?

I don't know exactly, but I think we have more younger horses, four-year-olds, this year than we had last year. You're always trying to replenish the squad. You'll lose horses and horses will retire, so you've got to keep buying new stock. If you don't, you're going to struggle. So new stock is very important, and I think we've got a good bunch this year.

Finding Talent

Is France Still Fertile Ground For You?

We bought a couple in France this year. We bought some point-to-pointers from the sales early in the summer, and we've got a couple of store horses from those sales as well. So, a bit of everywhere, really. There was a good Arqana sale on Saturday where we got four or five, and Newmarket is coming up, so we'll have a few horses in training from there, Flat horses, basically.

Any Big New Name Owners?

There are a couple of new guys involved, but hopefully the horses they have bought, they'll be lucky going forward.

The Season Begins

Is Down Royal the First Serious Meeting For You?

Not necessarily for us. We tend not to target it. Usually, Gordon Elliott would have a couple of big guns out there. But it's a month away, so we'll see. The horses are progressing well and doing plenty at the moment, so when it gets closer, we'll see where they stand.

Was the Fast Start a Deliberate Policy?

I think it was just the horses we had for the summer this year. We had a very good Galway and Listowel , winning the Galway Plate and the Kerry National . We didn't have those horses last year to come through. The horses went on the better ground, stayed healthy, and luckily it paid off.

Under the Radar

Who Could Turn Heads This Season?

I don't know about under the radar, but Mighty Park and He's On Fire are a couple of horses who are likely to go chasing, although that isn't confirmed yet. They looked like really decent novice hurdlers last year. I know Mighty Park didn't run his race at Cheltenham . He's On Fire was very impressive in winning a Grade 2 Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse . They look like chasers, and when they do go that route, there should be plenty of improvement in them.

Novices and Stayers

Who Are Your Top Novices?

Last year, King Rasko Grey won at Cheltenham , and I think he can make his mark over fences this year. He could possibly go down the Arkle route. Anzadam is another high-class horse going chasing. They should be good; plus, a bumper horse that didn't run much last year. Copacabana is a decent horse who had only one run and could be a strong contender.

And Your Top Stayers?

Jasmin De Vaux over hurdles, as I have said, and Jimmy Du Seuil , who went back over hurdles and was second in the Long Distance at Punchestown after going chasing. It'll be interesting to see whether he stays hurdling or goes back chasing. But he could be competitive.

Over fences you've got the likes of Gaelic Warrior , Fact To File , Nick Rockett will obviously be back for the Grand National, along with I Am Maximus, who was a revelation again in the National . All those old stalwarts are still there, touch wood, and hopefully they'll stay healthy for a good campaign.

Five to Follow

Can You Give Us Your Five to Follow?

I do like Mighty Park going chasing; I think he can be very, very good. I like the grey filly I spoke about earlier, Chic Me . A horse called Interstellar seems very nice at the moment. Then you're obviously looking at Gaelic Warrior to come back strong.

And maybe Jasmin De Vaux , who missed his season last year. He's on the comeback trail, will probably go down the stayers' route, one where I think he could be very competitive. He won a bumper then the Albert Bartlett but missed all of last season. He's on the comeback trail at the moment and looks pretty good.

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