THE trainer of a fairytale 50-1 Grand National winner has announced he is switching his focus to the Flat – after buying a legendary £3.5million yard.
Emmet Mullins, 36, claimed the world’s most famous race with outsider Noble Yeats in 2022.
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The horse was ridden by amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen – a close friend of Kate Middleton credited in some circles with getting her and William back together – in his final ever race.
Sadly, Noble Yeats passed away earlier this year.
His Aintree success saw Emmet – whose uncle is top handler Willie Mullins – reach the summit of the sport.
Most of his success has come over jumps – and he has the Grand National second-favourite Soldier In Milan among his squad of horses.
But that is something which looks all set to change following his purchase of Jim Bolger’s Coolcullen yard in Ireland, report the Racing Post.
On the market for £3.5m, Mullins was recently revealed as the buyer.
He will move out of his stables next to Willie and move into the six-bed, six-bathroom mansion complete with 150 boxes for horses.
Famed handler Bolger has sent out almost 3,000 winners from his base on the Carlow/Kilkenny border, stretching back to 1982.
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And with the set-up being made for Flat horses, Mullins said that is what he intends to focus on in the coming years.
He said: “You’re always hoping you get that sort of an opportunity. It has world-renowned gallops, it’s been producing great results for decades, and it has built into a serious operation.
“It’s not very often something like this comes to the table, and I’m delighted to get it – fingers crossed we can make a good stab at it.
“As daunting a task as it is maintaining Jim’s standards, hopefully we can do it justice and keep it looking in such a fantastic way.
“There’s no real timeline for moving in and getting up and running.
“We’re concentrating on everything at home for the time being.
“I imagine it will be into next season before we make some plans. It will gather pace next year.
“It’s going to be a big jump in numbers for me in time, but it won’t happen overnight. We’re operating 45 stables currently, and to have access to so many more will be exciting.
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“We’ll have to make use of them, and it’s a big kick up the backside to drive on and take that next step.
“We’re going to be more Flat-orientated from now on.”
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