David Casey has been at Willie Mullins‘ side since the mid-1990s, and few people have a better feel for what is bubbling under at Closutton. Speaking exclusively to GG ahead of the new jumps season, Mullins’ long-serving assistant named a four-year-old point-to-pointer he likes the look of, and gave his thoughts on the stable’s big guns, from Champion Hurdle heroine Lossiemouth to dual Grand National winner I Am Maximus.
Casey has already given us his five to follow for the season, headed by Gold Cup winner Gaelic Warrior. Here is the rest of the Closutton lowdown.
A Mullins four-year-old to follow
“I like the look of him and he’s probably not a bad horse.”
Asked to name a young horse who has caught his eye at home, Casey pointed to a recruit from the point-to-point field. He told GG: “Ceasar’s Ball, a four-year-old point-to-pointer. I like the look of him and he’s probably not a bad horse.”
That might sound like faint praise, but understatement is very much the Closutton way. Plenty of Mullins stars have emerged from the pointing ranks, and when the man who rides out and checks the horses every morning singles one out, it is a name worth noting before he makes his debut under Rules.
King Rasko Grey heads novice chasers
King Rasko Grey is among the potential captains for Closutton’s novice chase team. The six-year-old made a big impression over hurdles last season, winning a maiden at Limerick over Christmas before landing the Turners Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival at 11/1. He then followed up in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown at 8/13, holding on gamely under Paul Townend.
“King Rasko Grey could possibly go down the Arkle route.”
“Last year, King Rasko Grey won at Cheltenham, and I think he can make his mark over fences this year,” Casey said. “He could possibly go down the Arkle route.”
Another exciting recruit to fences is Anzadam. He spent last season in open company over hurdles, finishing second in the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and fourth in both the December Hurdle and the Irish Champion Hurdle, so he arrives over fences with plenty of top-level experience. Casey described him as “another high-class horse going chasing” and added: “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.”
Copacabana was fourth in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at Punchestown in 2025 and was beaten just three-quarters of a length when second in a maiden hurdle at Navan on his only start last season, so there should be races to be won with him.
Jimmy Du Seuil among the staying ranks
Casey expects Jasmin De Vaux to head down the staying hurdle route on his return from a season on the sidelines, but he is not the only Mullins horse who could make his mark over long distances. Jimmy Du Seuil won a beginners’ chase at Fairyhouse and was third in a Grade 1 novice chase at the same track last season, before reverting to hurdles and running a fine race to finish second, beaten three-quarters of a length, in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown.
On that pair, Casey said: “I like Jasmin De Vaux over hurdles this season, 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.”
Nick Rockett and I Am Maximus back for the Grand National
Mullins has a formidable hand in the staying chase division, and his two most recent Grand National winners are both on course to return to Aintree. I Am Maximus wrote himself into the history books in April, regaining the title he first won in 2024 to become the first horse since Red Rum to win the National again after losing his crown. He had finished second to stablemate Nick Rockett in 2025, and the 2025 winner was a late absentee from this year’s race after coughing.
Casey said: “Over fences you’ve got the likes of Gaelic Warrior, Fact To File and Nick Rockett who 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.”
Lossiemouth set to lead the Champion Hurdle charge
Lossiemouth is in great order and looks set to spearhead Mullins’ bid for another Champion Hurdle. The mare finally landed the big one at Cheltenham in March, travelling powerfully and pulling six and a half lengths clear of old rival Brighterdaysahead as the 7/5 favourite. That was her fourth Cheltenham Festival success, following the Triumph Hurdle and two Mares’ Hurdles, and her tenth Grade 1 win.
“I’d imagine she’d be our main contender for the Champion Hurdle.”
“The two races for her would be the Champion Hurdle and the Mares’ Hurdle,” Casey said about the star mare. “After winning the Champion Hurdle last year, she would be our main contender. I am not certain we would have another outstanding candidate coming through. We didn’t have anything in the first three of the Supreme so I’d imagine she’d be our main contender for the Champion Hurdle.”
He was also pleased with what he saw at the weekend: “She is in great order. I was looking at her cantering up the gallop on Saturday and she’s in really good nick. If she could go back to the type of performance she gave last year, everyone would be delighted.”
Three decades as Willie Mullins’ right-hand man
Casey has been at Closutton for more than 30 years, and the operation has changed beyond recognition in that time. The yard now houses one of the most powerful strings in jumps racing, and he told GG his role has grown with it, though only to a point.
When I started in 1994 Willie only had 35 horses!
He said: “It will have expanded a little bit but only because of the number of horses we have. When I started in 1994 Willie only had 35 horses! The job otherwise is pretty much the same; I ride out still, check the horses in the morning, help with the entries and declarations, and all that stuff. Whatever needs to be done you put your hand in.”
Casey was speaking courtesy of BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest horse racing odds every day of the week.
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