BE BRAVE OPPOSING WICKLOW
Mullins charge is back on Fire
WICKLOW BRAVE must be fancied to register his 15th career success, at the expense of former stable-companion and fellow County Hurdle winner Arctic Fire, in the Horse And Jockey Hotel Hurdle on Super Sunday in Tipperary tomorrow.
A former Punchestown Champion Hurdle and County Hurdle (at Cheltenham) winner, the Willie Mullins, right, trained Wicklow Brave is on a roll, having completed a fourtimer, in admittedly uncompetitive races, since failing to cope with Joey Sasa in the Grimes Hurdle over this course and distance in mid-july.
He went on to triumph on the flat under Patrick Mullins at Killarney (twice) and Galway, at odds ranging from 4/5 to 1/25. And, last time, reverting to hurdling, he had a stroll around Listowel to landat odds of 1/16 a three-runner conditions event, which he won by 56 lengths.
Tomorrow’s test will be a lot more demanding, facing former Mullins inmate Arctic Fire, whose CV includes Champion Hurdle and Irish Champion Hurdle seconds and success in the 2017 County Hurdle.
Now in the care of Denis Cullen, the nine-year-old has run twice for his new handler, finishing third to Good Thyne Tara in
Cork before outpointing Flaxen Flie on the same track.
Wicklow Brave is rated only 2lb superior to Arctic Fire and must concede 11lb to him, which should give Cullen’s charge an excellent chance.
But, in the belief Arctic Fire is more effective over two and a half miles, Wicklow Brave and Paul Townend might have the edge.
Mullins runs three in the Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle, with Townend’s mount, Listowel winner QUICK GRABIM probably best of the trio over the minimum trip.
But I’ll side with Joseph O’brien’s TRIPLICATE,A slick jumper which has impressed me in his hurdle successes in Galway and Listowel.
Triplicate’s stable-companion LE RICHEBOURG, a three-time winner over hurdles last year and fifth behind Sharjah in the Guinness Galway Hurdle, made a successful start over fences in Listowel and, stepping up in trip, gets the nod in the Grade 3 Like-a-butterfly Novice Chase.
He lacks the experience of some of his rivals, notably ROBIN DES FORET, successful in Listowel, his third win over fences and another Mullins runner CAMELIA DE COTTE.
But, on his potential, the Barry Geraghty-ridden Le Richebourg is preferred.