DOUVAN CAN REACH HEIGHTS
Mullins’ rundown ON his Festival hopefuls
WILLIEstars of MULLINSthe previous may years lack and the the numbers, after Michael O’Leary removed 60 horses from his yard over a training fee dispute, but he will still have a mighty line-up at this week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Mullins“That’s O’Leary’s sport wants decision– to Claudioput to behind jump Ranieri him,ship was butis something remarks: probably thinking the same thing!”
Significantly, of the seven Mullins-trained winners at last year’s Festival not one of them carried the O’Leary silks.
Mullins has been the leading trainer at the Festival for five of the last six years and is 4-6 favourite to come out on top this week.
In 2015 he sent out a record-breaking eight Festival winners, beating Nicky Henderson’s seven winners achieved in 2012.
Mullins, 60, the son of Paddy, who made history when training Dawn Run to become the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle (1984) and Gold Cup (1986), celebrated his first Festival winner with Tourist Attraction in the 1995 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
“People expect a lot from our team,” said Mullins. “We are hoping rather than expecting.
“I will send over about 40 horses, not as many as in recent years. I think it is going to be tougher for us.”
Mullins outlines his leading hopes for the four-day meeting.
AUGUSTA KATE
(Albert Bartlett) “I think she needs further than two miles. She will probably go for the Albert Bartlett along with C’EST JERSEY, PENHILL and maybe BATTLEFORD.”
BACARDYS
(Neptune Hurdle) “He probably surprised us a little bit when he won the Deloitte Novice Hurdle (at Leopardstown).
“He is a horse we have always thought a lot of and that win recently has put him back on track.
“KEMBOY and MONTALBANO are others in the mix for the race.”
BAPAUME
(Triumph Hurdle) “We think we have a nice one for the race. I hope there is more to come from Bapaume but there will need to be if he is going to win.”
BELLSHILL
(RSA“He ran or badlyNH Chase)at Leopardstown last year and then we ran him in the wrong race at Cheltenham.
“He just disappointed me last time so we will have to see how he is. He might not come over as he fell when schooling at Leopardstown.”
BON PAPA
(Neptune, Albert Bartlett) “I will have to see what connections want to do. It will either be the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle or the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. He looks a real chasing type.”
DJAKADAM
(Gold Cup) “He’s is in great form. Last year he got a cut and we had just enough time to get him there. This year we have had a clearer run.
“He is coming to the age when chasers can win a Gold Cup.
“The first year [runner-up], he was young, the last year [runner-up], he had a bad prep. I think he is a better horse this year. We are
hopeful. Perhaps we need the ball bouncing a bit more in our favour and it could happen.”
DOUVAN
(Champion Chase) “Everythingbutit. the bar keepshas gone rising well. and He’she keepsnot there meetingyet
“Hopefully, he can keep going. He has won everything we have asked him to win, but the Championship races mean the most.
“He could be the best I have had, although he has long way to go and has to get past Hurricane Fly.”
FOOTPAD
(Champion“Petit at LeopardstownMouchoir Hurdle)wasso wherevernot going he away finishes from we him are hoping the track at Cheltenham will suit Footpad better.
“WICKLOW BRAVE is also in the Champion Hurdle and I am trying to get him there.”
HAYMOUNT
(RSA and NH Chase) “I thought he hated the ground the other day. He wants nice ground.
“He would not have got this sort of trip over hurdles because he had no respect for them, but he has settled down over fences.
“I would be happy enough he will get the trip in the four-miler. He jumps well.”
ISLE OF HOPE N DREAMS
(Pertemps Final) “Somebody was telling me that he might not get in but our horses usually get between six and eight pounds over their Irish rating and, if that is the case, he will easily get in.”
LET'S DANCE ;8E:<
(Undecided) “I haven’t really decided what to do with Let’s Dance. The obvious one would be the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, although we seem to have a few nice mares for that including AIRLIE BEACH.
“The mares’ novice looks the obvious one for Let’s Dance. The step-up in trip has helped and she is a second-season novice. That is a big help to her.”
LIMINI
(OLBG Mares’ Hurdle) “I went to Punchestown thinking am I half-mad going there. Last year we went to the same race with Annie Power [last year’s Champion Hurdle winner] and before the race you would have said it was a schooling hurdle for her.
“But everything fell into place and she beat Apple’s Jade. I had thought about supplementing for the Champion Hurdle but we’ve now decided to go for the Mares’ Hurdle.”
MELON
(Supreme Hurdle) “Melon is one of four or five we will run in the
Supreme. BUNK OFF EARLY, CRACK MOME and CILAOS EMERY would be the other three at this stage. Melon has the ability and the potential to be right up there. I don’t think the form of the two-mile division is as strong as it has been in recent years.
“I don’t know which way Ruby (Walsh) will go but I think it will be an easy enough decision for him.
“I think Crack Mome and Cilaos Emery have good enough form to place or even win it if things go right. We think a bit of both. They have had two runs each and all these horses are going to improve.”
SHANESHILL
(Stayers’ Hurdle) “Shaneshill and CLONDAW WARRIOR will run. I am not so sure about NICHOLS CANYON. He has had an in and out year. If he starts to bounce between now and then, we might bring him.
“I think both Shaneshill and Clondaw Warrior have improved. Clondaw Warrior probably should have been campaigning over three miles long before now. It is going to be tough but they both have each-way chances.”
ROYAL CAVIAR
(Arkle) “He is in great order. We think he jumps very well and wants nice ground.”
VROUM VROUM MAG
(OLBG Mares’ Hurdle) “The OLBG is all I can see her going for after her performance the other day, when making hard work of it when getting home by head at Doncaster. It was a terrible run.
“Perhaps she was brewing something as when she came home we put her on antibiotics and gave her an easier time. She has done a couple of bits [of work] since and I am much happier with her.”
UN DE SCEAUX
(Ryanair) “Ground or no ground, that is where we are. I don’t think the trip is a problem. He won over two and a half on heavy ground as a younger horse, which means he could probably get three miles now.
“He is relaxing a lot better and I think his last run showed that. He is settling down as he gets older.”
CARTE MACKAY
(Bumper) “He heads our team and looks the one after his performance the other day. We don’t think he has any issues with ground.
“He had been doing nice work at home, although I would have to say his performance at Naas was better than I
had hoped. Any horse who can win around Naas like that is a fair machine. NEXT DESTINATION works well and definitely goes, and we have also entered two fillies, REDHOTFILLYPEPPERS and MYSTIC THEATRE.”
YORKHILL
(JLT “Last Chase October, and my Arkle) leading fancy for the Champion Hurdle was Yorkhill because the other two [Faugheen and Annie Power] had their problems.
“But as we got to Christmas they seemed fine, so I made the decision to go chasing with Yorkhill and he’s won both of his starts.
“He schooled at Leopardstown last week and went left at the first two fences. He will be schooled again before Cheltenham. The JLT has always been his objective.”