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Mullins leads the field as Irish aim for glory
BUOYED by t hat unprecedented Festival strike-rate of a magical 14 victors 12 months ago, Irish jumping’s finest descend on Cheltenham again today with their sights firmly fixed on emulating the 2013 opening afternoon’s four-winner salvo delivered by our perennial champion trainer Willie Mullins.
A formidable team well in excess of 40 runners are scheduled to represent the flourishing Mullins stable this week in the Cotswolds spearheaded by the world record Grade One holder Hurricane Fly which will undoubtedly go off favourite to land a third Champion Hurdle triumph if the yard is already off the mark.
Given that the Closutton yard have both ultra-promising Vautour and Champagne Fever, seeking a third Festival win on the trot, going into action under Ruby Walsh earlier, it’s the lean, mean figure of ‘The Fly’ which will command most attention in advance of the eagerly awaited championship showdown.
Billed as the most absorbing major race of the four-day extravaganza that generates betting turnover of £150 million, the Stan James promotion has been captured by our raiding party in six of the past 12 renewals since the mighty Istabraq rounded off his hat-trick in 2000.
Hurricane Fly, which last year reclaimed the crown lost to Rock On Ruby in 2012, now has to contend with fellow decisive winners then The New One and Our Conor in addition to a three-pronged bid by J P McManus courtesy of My Tent Or Yours and Jezki plus veteran pacemaker Captain Cee Bee.
A battle of wits by their riders, hopefully a proper gallop and drying ground over the extended two miles of the Old Course that favours speed over stamina are the vital ingredients of a race that promises so much and might still see the never-say-die attitude of the reigning champion and his ace partner deliver yet again.
Whether the luck will be with the Irish and specifically the Mullins bandwagon today is the burning question. Certainly the visiting competitors in the prime supporting races form a talented Tuesday team with Willie fielding fellow multiple scorers Wicklow Brave and Valseur Lido as back-up to Vautour in the opener.
Whatever the fate of this trio and/ or compatriots Gilgamboa and Western Boy in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Racing Post Arkle Trophy that follows holds even greater promise of an Irish success with Champagne Fever a worthy favourite to see off both local hero Rock On Ruby and Limerick raider Trifolium.
Should we have two winners on the board after four races, prepare for a possible doubling of that tally as Quevega is odds-on then for an amazing, record sixth win on the bounce in the OLBG Mares Hurdle and dour stayer Foxrock heads the betting as well on the four-mile National Hunt Chase for Ted and Katie Walsh.
Looking ahead, Wednesday’s fare could be more than worthwhile also as the Mullins stable continues to hold more aces as the well-touted Faugheen and Ballycasey dominate the ante-post lists on the Neptune Novice Hurdle and RSA Novice Chase while the finale sees Willie seeking his ninth victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
In between we may see successful home defences of the Queen Mother Champion Chase, Coral Cup and Fred Winter Hurdle spoils even if there’s a sporting chance of last year’s victor Big Shu or maybe Star Neuville coping with Balthazar King and company in the marathon Glenfarclas Cross-Country Chase.
Thursday could turn out to be the weakest session overall for the Irish runners even if the unbeaten Annie Power copes with ageing former staying supremo Big Buck’s in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle for the Mullins-Ruby Walsh alliance or perhaps Benefficient could show his liking for Cheltenham again by landing the Ryanair Chase.
The state of the ground by Friday will determine how the Irish prosper, or not, during the closing afternoon as a result of the forecast for drying conditions later this week.
Philip Fenton’s Last Instalment, which routed the Hennessy Gold Cup field at Leopardstown, won’t be risked against Bobs Worth in the Gold Cup unless there’s some cut underfoot and Briar Hill might not be suited by faster going as the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle hotpot.