Marcus Townend

CAPTAIN HEATH

WILLIE MULLINS has one of his many favourites in the WellChild National Hunt Chase in Gaillard Du Mesnil but it is a contest in which market leaders have a bad record and he looks worth taking on, despite his undoubted ability. Patrick Mullins’ mount has to prove his staying power in what promises to be a stamina-sapping test and the one who could beat him is MAHLER MISSION.

The gelding is trained by John McConnell. He may not be one of the best-known Irish trainers to British punters but he has a growing reputation and has a couple of really good chances over the four days of the Festival. Mahler Mission has won only one of his four steeplechases but he has run with credit in three-mile races, all the time looking like he needs an even greater test of stamina. He gets that here.

He has course and Festival experience and the final ingredient to his case is the booking of crack amateur jockey Shay Barry to ride.