Willie Mullins has laid out the plans for many of his runners at next week’s Cheltenham Festival which features Hurricane Fly and the history seeking mare Quevega writes BETDAQ’s JOHN SHERIDAN.
Mullins commented on his website earlier and confirmed targets for some of his runners with multiple entries including his strong string of Novices.
The Irish trainer is currently trading at 1.52 on betdaq.com to be the Leading Trainer at the Festival and could go even shorter than that after day one with Vautour, Champagne Fever, Hurricane Fly and Quevega all towards the top of markets on the opening day of the Festival while he didn’t know entirely rule out Un De Sceaux from a crack at the Champion Hurdle.
However, it is the Novice Chase division that Mullins appears to be the man to follow with the top horse in the betting in each of the three races. Mullins confirmed that Champagne Fever (pictured), Felix Yonger and Ballycasey will be kept apart. Champagne Fever (currently trading at 4.7 on BETDAQ) CLICK FOR MARKET is set to tackle the Arkle Novices Chase in his bid to win at the Festival for the third time having won the Champion Bumper and Supreme Novices Hurdle over the last two years. Mullins said of his chances; “It isn’t ideal going into next week’s Arkle with just two runs under his belt as I would love to have given him another run, but there you are,” admitted Mullins.
“That said I was very happy with his schooling session at Leopardstown on Sunday where he went with three others including Felix Yonger. He jumped from fence to fence and Ruby was very complimentary about him.”
Ballycasey hit some headlines on Sunday after racing at Leopardstown as he took a tumble schooling under Ruby Walsh and the Bagnalstown handler commented; ‘’ He is a very adaptable horse who can win over 2m or is effective over 3m,” Mullins said in Wednesday’s Weekender. “He is a useful individual and I am leaning towards the RSA Chase for him.
“He will lack experience having only raced twice over fences but he is a natural jumper which is far more important. However, we took him to Leopardstown on Sunday for an exercise run and he fell but he seems fine despite that.”
Mullins will be hoping that last year’s Champion Bumper winner, Briar Hill can follow in the footsteps of Champange Fever by winning at the Festival two years in a row as he is likely to contest the Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdle for which he is currently trading at 3.75. Faugheen, currently at 3.95, is set to head to the Neptune Novices Hurdle while Vautour will be one of three likely entries in the opening race, the Supreme Novices along with Wicklow Brave and Valseur Lido.
Of his other runners, Glens Melody is a definite for the Mares Hurdle where she will take on history seeking mare Quevega. Rathvinden & Faugheen are likely to go for the Neptune Novice Hurdle while he is leaning towards the Albert Bartlett for Briar Hill. Diakali and Arctic Fire are possible for the County Hurdle. Abbyssial & Gitane Du Berlais are both intended for the Triumph Hurdle.
The Champion Bumper is likely to see four Mullins runners with Shaneshill, Black Hercules, Westhope and Killultagh Vic while no decision has yet been made for Boston Bob or Arvike Legionniere while he may have 4 in the Cross Country Race.
NEW !!!
You can now follow BETDAQ updates on Google+
For further details – CLICK HERE
Did you know that as well as checking the realtime prices on BETDAQ below – you can also log into your account and place your bets directly into BETDAQ from BETDAQ TIPS.
