There was probably just one man at Kempton that truly believed Tornado Flyer had a chance in the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase – luckily it was Danny Mullins.
Willie Mullins, who was at Leopardstown, did not give the eight-year-old he trains for the T F P Partnership much of a hope – and that was more than understandable.
This was a horse whose sole Grade 1 win came in a bumper more than three years ago and had not won in any capacity since December 2019. Before the race he said of Tornado Flyer’s chances: “On paper he has very little chance, with a bit of luck he might get into some of the small prize-money.”
£142,375 is a lot of prize-money by anyone’s standards, but if Tornado Flyer got lucky in any way it was in Frodon and Minella Indo taking each other on early. The first half mile of the race was run in consecutive sub-15 second furlongs. Tornado Flyer was second-last through the early stages, a good ten lengths off the leaders. While Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost cut each other’s throats, Mullins played the waiting game.
3.05 Kempton: full result and replay
It was an assured ride throughout from a jockey who has blossomed and more than proved he belongs in this company. In 2021 he has won an Irish Gold Cup, Stayers’ Hurdle, Champion Novice Chase, Mares Champion Hurdle, Royal Bond and now a King George. Success breeds confidence, confidence breeds good decision-making and good decision-making breeds more success. Mullins is flying and in a circle of positivity propelling him upwards – a tornado if you will.
“I didn’t think he was totally out of it,” he said. “This is as competitive a race as has been run in England all year and this lad’s always had the promise to deliver something like this.”
If anything highlights the confidence with which Mullins is riding right now it is reflected in just how early he knew he was in with a chance. “I knew he had a squeak and going away from the stands the second time he was starting to come alive. Going down the back I was able to just keep taking him back and filling him up and even at the last on his own he was probably idling.”
On the eight-year-old’s trainer, and his uncle, Mullins added: “When you’re riding for Willie you’ve always got a chance, no matter what price they are. 2021 has been a fantastic year for me, I’ve had multiple winners at the big festivals, a Cheltenham Festival winner, to cap it off with a King George is great. It’s one of the races of the season.”
That it was. They lined up five abreast, with Asterion Forlonge, Minella Indo, Chantry House, Clan Des Obeaux and Frodon heading down to the first together. It set the tone for what turned into a bruising encounter.
By the fourth last Chantry House had pulled up, the reigning Gold Cup hero was tailed off and Frodon had been swamped by stablemates Clan Des Obeaux and Saint Calvados – the only horse who trailed Tornado Flyer through the early stages.
But as the Paul Nicholls-trained trio fought on the eyes became drawn to the strong-travelling Mullins contingent in behind. Once again Mullins waited, letting Saint Calvados soften up the two-time winner Clan Des Obeaux on the long bend.
Had it been one of Mullins’ bigger names, an Al Boum Photo or a Kemboy, going so well it may have been twigged a little sooner, but nothing in the form book suggested Tornado Flyer was going to be a factor, so it wasn’t until he powered into the lead down the centre of the course approaching the second last that many even entertained the possibility he could win. By then, of course, it was probable and two bold leaps carried him home.
“He has promised all the time but the second half of his season always seems to taper off,” said Mullins from Leopardstown, where he saddled three winners. “We have done different things with him this season and maybe they are working. All the credit must go to John Turner [part-owner of Tornado Flyer] as he said he’d love to have a runner. It’s absolutely unbelievable and he was going well at all stages. It’s brilliant for Danny.”
On Asterion Forlonge, he added: “I thought Asterion was gone at the second-last but he came back on the bridle again. He has a huge engine but he just has to put it all together. There’s a big one in him when he does.”
Nicholls, who saddled the second, third and fourth, added: “All three will be slightly better on slightly better ground. The best horse on the day won but I was ruing the rain this morning. Clan was always on the front end a bit, which is what we wanted, and he couldn’t fill his lungs up turning in because Saint Calvados took him on. He was then a bit one-paced in the ground and he got outstayed.
“It was a super run from Saint Calvados. Gavin rode a strange race. He dropped him in and was going to come late but he ended up thinking the winning post was four out. The horse then got a little bit tired but he showed a lot today and we’ll get a nice race out of him.”
Read more:
Expert Jury: ‘Gold Cup quotes of 14-1 are a little insulting given Tornado Flyer’s profile’
‘I was beaten a long way from home’ – Blackmore disappointed with Minella Indo
‘Sometimes you’ve just got to keep going and hope’ – 999-1 in-running stunner
Shades of Denman says Nicholls as ‘mighty’ Bravemansgame storms to victory
