IT’S TIME FOR A BIT OF LOVE

Willie’s stars to ‘laugh about will give punters plenty

WILLIE Mullins could be in for a successful day at Leopardstown where the champion trainer has strong prospects of a four-timer.

The Mullins challenge on today’s card is headed by Livelovelaugh who lines up in the Grade B TRI Equestrian Handicap Chase.

This 11-year-old hasn’t won in over three years but has run some fine races in defeat since.

Indeed he comes into this race off one of the best efforts of his career which saw him take third in last month’s Leopardstown Chase over this course and distance.

Then Livelovelaugh was beaten just over a length into third in what was a much stronger race than today’s one.

If he can match that level of form he will surely take all the beating here although Mitchouka is also respected having shown up well in another big handicap last month.

The day should begin with a victory for the Mullinstrained Fly Smart in the maiden hurdle over two and a quarter miles.

This French import hasn’t run for close to two and a half years but such an absence is never a concern for a runner from this yard.

In his two runs in France he showed plenty of promise and his placed effort on his hurdling debut at Auteuil in October 2018 would suggest that he can win a race like this.

In the mares maiden hurdle the vote goes to the smart Mullins inmate Royal Illusion.

A former winner of the Irish Cesarewitch on the flat, this mare shaped up well on her first start over hurdles at Naas in December when she was third to Delvino.

That effort earns her the vote over the useful Noel Meade representative Mare Quimby who won a bumper earlier in the season.

Elsewhere Klassy Kay can complete the Mullins four-timer in the mares handicap hurdle.

She has won two of her three starts since joining the champion trainer with her most recent success coming at Punchestown in January.

The card also plays host to an interesting conditions hurdle where French Dynamite would be a deserving winner for Mouse Morris.

He wasn’t beaten all that far in a Grade 1 here at Christmas while his previous second to Sire Du Berlais in November’s Lismullen Hurdle represents another strong piece of form.

Elsewhere Stansfield is a capable type and he could be the answer in the rated novice chase following a series of good efforts lately