Allaho is Kg-bound

ALLAHO spearheads a sevenstrong Willie Mullins assault on tomorrow’s Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase.

And the seven-year-old is “a big possibility” to cross the Irish Sea for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton three weeks later.

Asterion Forlonge, Kemboy, Janidil, Tornado Flyer, Melon and Franco De Port — an opportunity from Ireland’s champion trainer for Bryony Frost — represent Mullins (right) alongside Allaho.

The latter was a brilliant winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham in March before a second to stablemate Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown the following month. Mullins, who saddled Florida Pearl to King George glory in 2001, said of the Boxing Day feature: “It’s a big possibility for Allaho.

“He was only beaten a couple of lengths over three miles as a novice (in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase) at Cheltenham the year before.

“I’m hoping he will improve and mature more, and he probably hasn’t reached the best part of his stamina yet,” added the Closutton trainer.

His septet face opposition from the Henry de Bromhead pair Envoi Allen and Minella Times — the latter having his first start since landing the Randox Grand National last April — and Joseph O’brien’s Fakir D’oudairies.

With Chacun Pour Soi making his return to the fray in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown today and star two-mile novice Energumene reappearing in Cork’s Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase, Mullins observed: “It’s significant – we are going to find out a lot.

“Energumene looks a horse of huge ability.

“I’ve an owner in Cork who says there is torrential rain and that won’t hinder him.”