Getabird will fly on the soft ground
GETABIRD is expected to be suited by the testing conditions in his attempt to gain a first top-level success in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle today.
The six-year-old will put his unbeaten record on the line as he looks to give trainer Willie Mullins, who is also represented by Sharjah, a sixth victory in the two-mile curtainraiser.
Patrick Mullins, son and assistant trainer, said: “I think the rain is definitely in his favour as he handles the soft ground and he stays further than two miles.
“He has travelled over fine and has had a good preparation. Obviously he has got to improve from his current performances, but he is more than capable of doing it.
“It looks an open renewal but Kalashnikov sets a fair standard and Mengli Khan is a Grade One winner. He is a different type to a lot of our previous runners in the race.”
Of Sharjah, he added: “I think he would prefer drier ground, and that would be the concern.
“It was just drier ground when he ran very well over Christmas.”
Amy Murphy is looking forward to seeing Betfair Hurdle hero Kalashnikov on the biggest stage of them all, but recent rainfall at the track has slightly tempered optimism.
The Newmarket handler said: “He was impressive at Newbury. Under 11st 5lb, as a novice, it was an extremely good performance.
“He was a big baby going into the race. He’d never seen anything like that before but we were delighted with him.
“We’d rather it wasn’t raining the way it is, but there’s nothing we can do about that.”