Mullins veers towards Ballymore for top-level winner Destination
NEXT DESTINATION is on course for a Cheltenham Festival clash with Samcro after stepping up to Grade 1 level to maintain his unbeaten hurdles record at Naas yesterday.
The Willie Mullins six-year-old, fourth in last season’s Champion Bumper, made it three from three over obstacles with a one-length victory over Cracking Smart in the two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle.
Next Destination received a 6-1 quote for the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs at the Festival and is 7-1 for the three-mile Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle.
But it’s the former — for which Gordon Elliott’s unbeaten Samcro is the 7-4 market leader — that is uppermost in Mullins’ mind. “The Ballymore would be the one you would think of immediately,” said Ireland’s champion trainer. He’s improving all the time.”
Raz De Maree wants it “the softer the better” for his bid to make it third-time lucky in the Randox Health Grand National at Aintree on April 14.
Gavin Cromwell, who saddled the 13-year-old to victory in the Coral Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Saturday, said: “I’m going to discuss Aintree with the owners, but I’d love the heavens to open.”
VINNIE LEWIS justified 7-2 favouritism with a six-length victory in the At The Races Sussex National at Plumpton yesterday.