Emery in Champion bid
WILLIE MULLINS yesterday added Cilaos Emery to “such an open” Unibet Champion Hurdle – but star mare Benie Des Dieux will not be running in Cheltenham’s Tuesday feature.
Cilaos Emery, three times a winner over fences this season – before a first-fence fall at Leopardstown’s Dublin Racing Festival – is a 6-1 shot for the two-mile test after making a successful return to timber with a nine-and-a-half-length margin in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park last month.
And Mullins admitted it was the lack of a stand-out Champion Hurdle contender that persuaded owner Luke McMahon to stump up the £22,500 supplementary fee. “It’s totally because it’s such an open Champion Hurdle,” said Mullins.
“He should be improving – we’ve schooled him and he’s schooled well – and he’s had a short hurdles career.
“What he did coming down the hill at Gowran and putting the race to bed was good enough for me and Luke.”
But Mullins hasn’t ruled out a return to chasing with the eight-year-old, adding: “He can mix it and I’m not afraid to mix it with horses if they show the inclination to do it.”
RAB Havlin reached the 1,000-winner milestone when Pitcher’s Point, trained by the Scot’s boss John Gosden, landed the Ladbrokes Where The National Plays Novice Stakes.
“The second half of my career has been better than the first – and I’ve got John Gosden to thank for that,” said Havlin.
“He has been an unbelievable friend and supporter of mine.”
TOMORROW’S Grand Military Gold Cup card at Sandown Park was hinging on an inspection at 8am today.
“We need to see improvement overall,” said Sandown clerk of the course Andrew Cooper. “We haven’t seen the back of waterlogged or false patches of ground since we lost the meeting back on February 14.”