ALL ABOARD
Mullins star books Cheltenham ticket
WILLIE MULLINS unearthed a lively Cheltenham contender in Allaho who landed the Grade 3 Surehaul Mercedesbenz Novice Hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.
A beaten favourite in a Leopardstown bumper at Christmas, Allaho lived up to his big reputation with a smart display on his first start since then.
A lack of previous hurdling experience was no obstacle to the 100/30 favourite who was partnered by Ruby Walsh. The five-year-old took charge of this race just before the last and went on to hand out a four length beating to Minella Indo.
“He disappointed me hugely in a bumper at Christmas, compared to the work he had been doing at home,” said Mullins.
“The form of that Leopardstown race did work out though and he was green at Christmas which was the problem.
“He was very free throughout the race today so to come off a pace like that pulling as hard as he did and pick up, I was very impressed with him.
“He looks a real chaser in the making and we ran him here to see where to go at Cheltenham.
“Having gone a mile today, I thought if he won that the Ballymore could be the race for him because he was very free.”
Meanwhile, action switches to the flat at Dundalk this evening where
Joseph O’brien’s tremendous run of form looks set to continue.
The trainer’s string have been in terrific heart and his team for Dundalk’s winter season have carried all before them. O’brien has already notched up 22 wins at Dundalk this winter and he should add to his haul with Cerberus in the three-year-old maiden.
This son of Iffraaj shaped like a certain future winner on his debut at this track a fortnight ago when he lost out in a three way finish in a race that went to Isosceles.
He will surely improve off that run and is preferred to the experienced Will Be King who earned a rating of 78 after posting some
solid efforts in defeat last season.
The Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old Hazel Bay. She only ran once last season but produced a tremendous effort to finish second in the Listed Salsabil Stakes at Navan.
The winner of that race, Mary Tudor, went on to finish third in the Irish Oaks while the third-placed Princess Yaiza later won at
Group 2 level in France.
Last year’s Salsabil produced five stakes winners so if Hazel Bay can run to anything like that level she will take beating.