Mullins can crack Champion Chase
Trainer: Mrs D Foster (IRE)
R M Power
Owner: A Brown/G Brown
COOL JET (30)(D) 5-11-5 .................................................. B Hayes
Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE)
Owner: Mr Douglas Taylor
CREGGAN WHITE HARE (37)(T,D) 6-11-5 .............. J Bargary
Trainer: Sean Conway
Owner: Mr Sean Conway
FINE CASTING (56)(D) 5-11-5 ........................................ D Jacob
Trainer: B Pauling
Owner: Mrs S P Davis
JACK’S A LEGEND (122)(,WS) 6-11-5 .................... T J O’Brien
Trainer: A Jones
Owner: Burnham P & D Ltd
KILCRUIT (39)(D2) 6-11-5 ......................................... P Townend
Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE)
Owner: Miss M A Masterson
RAMILLIES (39)(D) 6-11-5 ......................................... B J Cooper
Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE)
Owner: Mrs J Donnelly
SHEARER (76)(D) 5-11-5 ............................................ A P Heskin
Trainer: P Nicholls
Owner: McNeill Family
SIR GERHARD (89)(D2) 6-11-5 .............. Rachael Blackmore
Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE)
Owner: Cheveley Park Stud
THREE STRIPE LIFE (47)(D) 5-11-5 ..................... J W Kennedy
Trainer: Mrs D Foster (IRE)
Owner: K Haughey
WONDERWALL (89)(D) 5-11-5 ..................................... J Bowen
Trainer: R Spencer
Owner: Rebel Jumping II
ELLE EST BELLE (123)(CD) 5-10-12 .......................... H Skelton
Trainer: D Skelton
Owner: Mrs Suzanne Lawrence
GRANGEE (38)(D2) 5-10-12 ..................................... D E Mullins
Trainer: W P Mullins (IRE)
Owner: Syndicates Racing
I LIKE TO MOVE IT (24) 4-10-12 ................. S Twiston-Davies
Trainer: N Twiston-Davies
Owner: A-M & J Shepperd
SUPER SIX (40)(D2) 4-10-12 ....................................... T Bellamy
Trainer: N Twiston-Davies
Owner: Teme Valley 2
CHACUN POUR SOI can secure victory in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase (3.05pm), the feature on the second day of the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.
With Nicky Henderson’s 2019 winner Altior out through injury, Willie Mullins’ rising star can take the two-mile championship contest at Prestbury Park.
The Irish handler – the most successful trainer in Festival history – has surprisingly never won the Champion Chase. But Chacun Pour Soi can change that.
The French import has won six of his seven starts over fences since joining Mullins’ Closutton stable, including four Grade Ones in Ireland.
Although he is a nineyear-old he remains lightlyraced and his most recent successes suggest there is plenty more to come.
His win in the Dublin Chase, beating Fakir D’Oudairies by eight lengths, mark him out as the one to beat.
Another Mullins’ star, MONKFISH, can continue his progression with another victory in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (1.55pm). The sevenyear-old won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival and has made a smooth transition to chasing. He has looked a potential future star in three wins, the last by 11-lengths in the Flogas Novice Chase was up there with the best performances by a novice chaser this season.
He looks a fluent jumper and travels well throughout. He can score again and put himself in the picture for a crack at next year’s Gold Cup.
Paul Nicholls’ BRAVEMANSGAME can come out on top in a high-class renewal of the opener on the second day, the Grade One Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Registered as The Baring Bingham) (1.20pm).
The six-year-old, who was an expensive purchase at the Cheltenham sales, ran out a smart 10-length winner of Grade One Challow Novices’ Hurdle at Newbury on his most recent start. That form looks rock-solid with decent performers beaten.
There is surely plenty more to come from Bravemansgame and he can come out on top against similarly exciting hurdlers, the Henry De Bromhead-trained Bob Olinger and Mullins’ Galliard Du Mesnil.
Nicky Henderson has won the last two renewals of the Grade Three Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (2.30pm). He has four good chances this time with BIRCHDALE possibly the best.
Birchdale was ninth last year, not beaten too far. The seven-year-old remains still lightly raced and from 1lb lower handicap mark he can certainly go a few places better at least and maybe come out ahead of stablemate Monte Cristo.
EASYSLAND and Tiger Roll square up again in the Glenfarclas Chase (A Cross Country Chase) (3.40pm) and it may be the same outcome as 12 months ago.
French raider Easysland comfortably beat the dual Randox Grand National hero in this last year to deny Tiger Roll a fifth Cheltenham Festival victory.
The David Cottin-trained seven-year-old, who would carry top weight if he heads for the Aintree marathon, was only fourth over the cross country fences at Prestbury Park in the autumn. But he is well suited to this challenge and can resume winning ways.
Joseph O’Brien’s EMBITTERED can win the Grade Three Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase (4.15pm).
Mullins has won the Grade One Weatherbys Champion Bumper (4.50pm) a record 10 times and any horse he runs in it is worth a second look.
He has five entries and although he doesn’t always triumph with his main hope, the County Carlow handler may land an 11th success with favourite KILCRUIT.