A WILLIE MULLINS horse loved by punters and remembered as a ‘legend’ at Cheltenham has died at the grand old age of 24.
Uncle Junior ran an amazing 14 times over the cross country track at the home of jumps.
Owned by Luke McMahon, he won 12 of his 52 career races and bagged more than £170,000 in prize money.
His final ever win came over the banks at Punchestown in April 2015 when he beat Quantitativeeasing by a neck in a thriller.
Victory helped Mullins land a 3,247-1 five-timer at the Irish track – on a day the trainer labelled ‘magical’.
McMahon confirmed Uncle Junior’s passing, writing on X: “Lost a great pal today, 24 and went peacefully. An iron horse. RIP.”
Uncle Junior’s record at Cheltenham was amazing, with two triumphs over the cross country track in November 2011 and 2012.
He also finished second to old foe Balthazar King in 2013 and 2014.
One of his most memorable wins was when he carried a huge 12st7lbs to success over the Punchestown banks in 2012.
Ridden by Willie’s son Patrick, the pair got up in the final stride to defeat 13-year-old Lydon House, who was carrying a stone-and-a-half less.
Punters were quick to pass on their sympathies to McMahon, with one writing: “That’s sad to hear. He leaves behind some great memories, so he’ll never be completely gone.”
While another said: “He was some legend, I still remember his grumpy face. Did everything as he liked, such a special horse.”
Mullins previously said Uncle Junior was a ‘fantastic’ horse to have around his Closutton base.
Uncle Junior ran his first race in June 2007 when he won a bumper of 2m3f – and he was always destined for longer trips.
His first win over hurdles came over 2m6f at Down Royal in November 2007, the first of three in a row.
But it would be over three years until he past the post first again, winning a 2m4f chase at Gowran Park in 2011.
And it was later that year that he won his first race at Cheltenham, conquering the cross country track at his first attempt aged ten.
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