Yorkhill can push his case for Festival bow
Willie Mullins unveils another potential superstar today in the shape of YORKHILL (sandown, 2.25).
Barely a prestigious meeting goes by without the irish champion trainer taking the wraps off a Cheltenham Festival candidate and it looks a clever policy to allow the Presenting gelding to tackle today’s Tolworth Hurdle.
By taking in this afternoon’s Grade One event, Mullins dips his toe into a British novice event at the highest level to get a steer regarding future engagements for the six-year-old and his stablemates.
impressive Punchestown scorer Yorkhill has been assessed accordingly by the layers and is sure to start at a prohibitive price today, but he does not lack pace and his rout of 15 rivals on his hurdling bow over two-and-a-half miles confirmed his stamina isn’t open to question. Mall Dini, third-home at Punchestown, hacked up by 16 lengths on his subsequent start to lend the form solidity and it will be disappointing if Yorkhill can’t build on that emphatic initial victory.
Mullins sends two mares to contest the 32Red.com Mares’ Hurdle but POLLY PEACHUM (sandown, 12.40) may prove too strong for Gitane Du Berlais and Petite Parisienne.
nicky Henderson’s eight-yearold looked in need of her first run at Kempton over a trip which stretched her and today’s contest looks far more suitable for a mare with an excellent record at the surrey venue.
Victory for Village Vic at Cheltenham yesterday emphasised what an excellent trainer and placer of horses Philip Hobbs has become. To complete a swift hat-trick, including two prize Prestbury Park handicaps, with the nine-year-old is no mean achievement and Hobbs could strike again with another lightlyraced type in TOOWOOMBA (sandown, 1.15).
Tom O’Brien’s record on the selection reads 2111 and the Milan gelding can’t have the ground soft enough, so more rain would help his chances.
The nap vote goes to CLARY (Chelmsford, nap, 12.30), who was a shade unfortunate not to score at Wolverhampton last time and has the in-form Pat Cosgrave in the saddle.