Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SEE OUT THE YEAR WITH THE VIC
Willie set for successful NY’s Eve
WILLIE Mullins can end 2017 on a high by reeling off a treble at Punchestown’s traditional New Year’s Eve fixture.
The champion trainer has a host of good chances throughout the day and he also fields the most interesting runner on the card in Killultagh Vic.
Just under two years ago this gelding was well on the way to becoming one of the top novice chasers in the country.
He won his first two outings over fences and these included a miracle comeback in a Leopardstown Grade 2.
On that occasion Killultagh Vic sprawled on landing at the last before somehow gathering himself for another effort on the run in which got him home in front.
Killultagh Vic hasn’t run since then but such an absence isn’t a major concern for a horse coming from the Mullins yard.
He remains a potentially top drawer prospect while it is worth recalling that he was a very good hurdler before he switched to fences.
He won the Martin Pipe at the 2015 Cheltenham Festival and then beat Thistlecrack in a Grade 1 at this track the following month.
He can overcome his lengthy absence at the expense of the very smart four-year-old Ex Patriot.
That one comes here in excellent heart as evidenced by a victory in a conditions hurdle at Limerick on Tuesday.
Earlier the Mullins-trained Augustin gets the vote in the opening beginners chase.
This gelding has something to find with Monbeg Notorious from their meeting in a Navan hurdle last March.
However, Augustin tends to be at his best fresh and he has won first time out for the last two seasons.
He can overcome his lack of previous chasing experience to see off his aforementioned rival.
That one did not progress from an encouraging chasing debut when he was a well beaten second behind Moulin A Vent at Fairyhouse last week.
The French import Msaasa is taken to make it a treble for Mullins in the juvenile hurdle.
This gelding ran just once over hurdles in France and that fourth place looks a good effort as the second and third have both won since at Grade 3 level.
In the two and a half mile handicap hurdle Miles To Memphis can play a leading role.
He was in excellent form on the flat this year, winning twice and showing up well in several premier handicaps.
Furthermore he did post a couple of good runs in handicap hurdles last season.
He is preferred to Hareth whose third to Davids Charm in a Galway Festival handicap represents a red hot piece of form.
The two mile handicap chase might finally go to Mount Brandon who has filled the runner-up spot for the last two years.