GAELIC’S SUNDAY SWITCH
WILLIE MULLINS insisted “plans change” after cancelling the highly-anticipated clash between Gaelic Warrior and Marine Nationale.
The showdown was expected to be a highlight on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown tomorrow.
But fans were left disappointed when Mullins’ Grade 1 winner over hurdles and fences failed to appear amongst Goffs Irish Arkle declarations.
With Gaelic Warrior out of the picture, Mullins relies on Facile Vega to take on Marine Nationale, hot favourite for its namesake 2024 Cheltenham Festival race.
Gaelic Warrior will now run in Sunday’s 2m5½f Ladbrokes Novice Chase.
Mullins said: “Plans change with what I see from the horses on the gallops. We decided to run Gaelic Warrior in the longer race and Facile Vega over shorter.”
Gaelic Warrior heads ante-post lists for his possible next target at Prestbury Park, the Turners Novices’ Chase, while Marine Nationale is one of three odds-on chances for Cheltenham’s opening card in March.
Barry Connell’s star kept up his unblemished record at his first chasing attempt, with an eightand-a-half length supremacy over Christmas.
Mullins has assembled a strong team of horses to open this weekend’s Festival, led by reigning Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs in the Paddy Powersponsored Irish version.
Their spokesman Paul Binfield said: “It has been termed the Willie Mullins Festival by some as on the first day the Closutton conjuror has four favourites, including Galopin Des Champs at 4-9.”
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