Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
SILLY.. NOT TO FOLLOW WILLIE
Gelee and Bapaume can strike for Mullins team
CHAMPION trainer Willie Mullins could be the man to follow as racing returns to Tramore for the first time since New Year’s Day.
At the track’s last fixture Mullins was on the mark with the dual Gold Cup hero Al Boum Photo.
He doesn’t run anything of that one’s quality today but he still sends a good team to a track where he does very well.
In the opening mares maiden hurdle Mullins can strike with Gelee Blanche who seemed to run out of steam late on at Downpatrick last month.
The shorter trip of today’s race can work in her favour and she has number of creditable efforts to her name.
She might have most to fear from Sheer Liss who was a major disappointment at Ballinrobe in October on her last start.
However, she was previously placed in a Listed bumper at
Gowran and that effort would suggest she should make a useful hurdler.
The race of the day looks to be the conditions chase over just short of two and three quarter miles and here Bapaume can strike for Mullins.
This gelding, who was Grade 1 class at his best, possibly isn’t the force of old but he should still take beating at this level.
He comes here off a couple of decent runs over hurdles which include a conditions hurdle win at Cork last month.
He returned to Cork for his last start and got turned over in another conditions hurdle but that looked a smart enough race so that defeat is easily forgiven.
It is also worth bearing in mind that much earlier in the season Bapaume ran well over fences when he was sixth to Daly Tiger in a hot handicap chase at Punchestown.
The form of that race has worked out really well so if he can match what he showed that day he will take beating.
En Beton will also be fancied to strike for the Mullins yard in the second of the day’s maiden hurdles.
However, preference here is for Rocky’s Howya who comes here off a good run at Wexford last week and his yard does well at this venue.
Master Artist was in winning form at Cork over Easter and he might be the answer in the handicap hurdle where a number of his rivals are struggling for form.
In the first of the handicap chases a chance is taken on Kitten Rock who showed up well in a veteran’s chase at Wexford last week.
This gelding mightn’t be anything like as good as he once was but he still possesses enough ability to land a race like this.
Mind Your Money ran a lovely race behind Party Central at Fairyhouse last time and she looks the answer in the mares bumper.