Tag Archive for: Leopardstown

Gaelic Warrior has ‘serious engine’ and exciting ambitions at Cheltenham

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Gaelic Warrior has big-race Cheltenham ambitions after running out a comfortable victor of the Festina Lente Charity Liffey Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The five-year-old – narrowly beaten when heavily-backed at the Festival in March – was the 10-11 favourite after facile successes in both hurdle starts this season, winning two contests by a combined 101 lengths.

Under Paul Townend the Rich Ricci-owned gelding was never any further back than the front group and when asked to quicken when turning for home he galloped clear to prevail under top-weight by three and three-quarter lengths.

“He has a bit of class and he proved it there, to do that in a competitive handicap was very good,” said trainer Willie Mullins.

“Paul tried to get a nice position on the inside and then find a bit of room after the second-last. The horse had plenty in reserve.

Gaelic Warrior clears the last
Gaelic Warrior clears the last (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“We always thought he had a serious engine and he’s progressing all the time.

“He’s in the Supreme and Ballymore, I’ll have a good chat with Paul later on and see what direction we go with him.

“We’ll see what the fallout of this weekend is and see what we have for different races.

“He looked like a horse that’s still maturing and improving. He looked like a horse that could be a really nice novice chaser as well.

“We’ll see how he finishes out the season, obviously there is Cheltenham and Punchestown to come yet.”

Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer pocketed a valuable prize when winning the Bulmers Leopardstown Handicap Chase.

He was sent off a 10-1 chance in the hands of Davy Russell, who was chasing a double on the card after earlier Grade One success aboard Mighty Potter.

In a large field of 23 The Goffer was allowed to bide his time in mid division, picking his way through rivals around the final bend and over the last fence.

From there he battled into the lead, passing Paul Gilligan’s Glamorgan Duke to cross the line two lengths ahead.

The Goffer (right) alongside third-placed Top Ville Ben
The Goffer (right) alongside third-placed Top Ville Ben (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“We thought he had a chance on the drying ground,” said Elliott.

“He probably wants a bit further but he jumped great and galloped the whole way to the line, we’re very happy.

“Davy was great on him. I told him to go out and take every chance, don’t leave the paint. In those big handicaps that’s what you have to do.

“We’ll look at all those long-distance races and he could be an Irish National horse.”

Liz Doyle’s Ballybawn Belter returned to Leopardstown to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle.

A bumper winner at the Dublin track last year, the mare has taken a little while to get the hang of hurdling but hit her stride with a convincing two-length success under Simon Torrens at a price of 16-1.

“I’m very pleased. She won her bumper here in similar fashion,” said Doyle.

“It was probably about two furlongs too short for her, but I thought the good gallop would help us.

“She jumps very well now. When she started she was very awkward over her hurdles on her first couple of runs. She was very slow, a bit right and left. It came together on her last couple of runs.

“She pinged the last and I’m thrilled.”

In the Grade Two Coolmore N.H. Sires “Santiago” Irish EBF Mares I.N.H. Flat Race it was Willie and Patrick Mullins who combined to win with Fun Fun Fun.

Fun Fun Fun and Patrick Mullins
Fun Fun Fun and Patrick Mullins (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

As the 9-4 favourite, the five-year-old built on a 10-length maiden victory at Sligo to land the Group Two by nearly the same distance when coming home nine and a half lengths to the good.

“It was a very impressive performance because she had a break since her last run and I didn’t think she had enough done,” said the trainer.

“She looked like she had blown up coming out of the back stretch and she looked in trouble about three furlongs out.

“Patrick said when he pulled her to the outside she got her second wind and she just took off. She looks to be a serious mare.

“She’s entitled to go anywhere she wants now. Do you go to Cheltenham or to the mares’ bumper in Aintree?

“She’s well entitled to go wherever connections decide and I’d dare say Patrick will probably have a fair say in that along with Simon and Isaac (Munir and Souede, owners).”

Mares’ Hurdle or retirement for Honeysuckle, but no Champion Hurdle

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Honeysuckle could have her Cheltenham Festival swansong in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle – with owner Kenny Alexander steering away from the Unibet Champion Hurdle after the mare suffered a second career defeat at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The nine-year-old was eclipsed for the first time in 17 races when only third in the Hatton’s Grace in December and found herself having to be content with place honours again under Rachael Blackmore, as State Man galloped home a clear winner of the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

While both trainer Henry de Bromhead and Alexander were satisfied with their superstar’s effort, they conceded the long-awaited clash with Constitution Hill in the Champion Hurdle now looks unlikely, with the Mares’ Hurdle prize Honeysuckle won in 2020 seemingly now the only option – although even that is not a given at this stage with retirement also in the mix.

Alexander said: “Age catches up with us all – one of the young pretenders has overtaken her and there’s one in England.

“Is she as good as she was? No, she’s not as good as she was. I wouldn’t overreact after her first run, she’s still very, very high class but she’s not quite as good as she was. She is nine now and she ran her heart out, she ran a blinder.

“We will definitely not be taking on Constitution Hill after that, because she is so brave and I would fear what would happen. We’re not running around for place money so it’s up to Henry, if he wants to chuck it now. I’ve always said ‘just get her out now, safe and sound’ and maybe the time has come.

“I know the horse is so brave and Rachael doesn’t muck about, we’d run to win and I’d dread anything happening to her now and I don’t think we can beat Constitution Hill – I’m not sure anything can.

“I thought she ran a blinder, but I’ll leave it to Henry and Rachael, whatever they say will go. I’d love to win another Mares’ and go out in a blaze of glory, but I don’t want anything to happen to her now.”

Honeysuckle, who had won the Irish Champion Hurdle three times previously, was applauded around the parade ring before the race and cheered all the way back to the unsaddling enclosure after the race.

Alexander admitted the reception meant a lot and was philosophical in defeat as the racing journey with his “horse of a lifetime” nears an end.

He said: “You do feel a bit of responsibility not to go to the well too many times, but I will leave it to Henry and Rachael. If they want to go for the Mares’ I’d love to win one more, but I’m not going to make any decision, I will leave it to them.

“We have won so many Grade Ones, she’s the horse of a lifetime – I’m not gutted, why would I be gutted? Gutted is when you get chinned in a bumper with something you spent a lot of money on, I feel gutted then, I don’t feel it today.

“She ran her heart out, got beat by a very good horse, a younger horse and I’m not gutted at all. It’s just a race, we go on.”

Honeysuckle is a dual Champion Hurdle winner
Honeysuckle is a dual Champion Hurdle winner (Nigel French/PA)

De Bromhead felt Honeysuckle had perhaps posted her best performance yet in the Leopardstown heat, even in defeat.

He told Racing TV: “I thought she ran really well, I’m delighted with the run and fair play to the winner. He won it well and that was it.

“I’d say she’s probably run to a higher standard (this year) possibly, I don’t know. The form people and all the gurus will work that out, but I thought she ran really well and we were happy with her.

“We know all about her, we don’t have to say anything about her courage and her attitude. She was brilliant all the way to the line.”

Honeysuckle got the better of Benie Des Dieux in an epic 2020 Mares' Hurdle (
Honeysuckle got the better of Benie Des Dieux in an epic 2020 Mares’ Hurdle (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

While initially unsure of future plans, De Bromhead later indicated the Mares’ Hurdle could be the best assignment, although he underlined plans were far from definite.

Speaking to ITV Racing, he said: “I don’t think now is the time to be making any decisions. It’s not up to me, but I wouldn’t be running her in the Champion Hurdle, if we were to run again I’d run in the Mares’ Hurdle. I wouldn’t like to force it.”

Coral pushed Honeysuckle out to 8-1 for the Champion Hurdle, but go 7-2 about her for the Mares’ Hurdle.

Il Etait Temps times it right, as Facile Vega disappoints

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Il Etait Temps was a shock winner as Facile Vega finished last of all in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.

Both horses are trained by Willie Mullins, but it was Facile Vega who was widely expected to triumph as the 4-9 favourite.

He faded quickly out of it after turning for home, however, whereas his stablemate was able to accelerate under Danny Mullins to stun onlookers with a nine-and-a-half-length success at 14-1.

There had been drama earlier on, too, when one-time Derby favourite High Definition parted company with JJ Slevin.

Mullins said: “They went a mad pace in front and it cost the favourite, I think.

We’ll probably just have to ride him like a racehorse rather than a machine the next time

“Joseph’s (O’Brien) horse (High Definition) wasn’t able to jump at that pace and he paid the penalty.

“I was worried when I saw the pace going past the winning post first time, I said they can’t keep this up.

“Then they jumped the two hurdles down the side and going around by the reservoir I turned to David Casey and said ‘these two are going to break each other’s heart’.

“High Definition lost his rider and I thought Paul (Townend) could get a breather into our fella but he didn’t get a breather.

“That was what I was worried about here the last day, that he took off going to that hurdle and used himself up.

“We’ll probably just have to ride him like a racehorse rather than a machine the next time because that’s what Paul did today, he rode him like a machine rather than a racehorse.

“We’ll change tactics on him the next day and hopefully he’ll be back to what he is.

“Not taking away from the winner, he’s a very good horse. He’s just got to get his jumping right, he made a mistake at the first again today. He’s a Grade One horse.

“I’ve always thought a lot of him, but he just has to get his jumping right. He got a very cute ride from Danny as well.

“He knew what was going to happen and he just popped him in behind and said ‘I’ll let the two in front have their battle and see if we can pick up the pieces afterwards’ and he surely did.

“They just went too fast in front, the pace was wrong, and Danny had his fractions right.”

Il Etait Temps
Il Etait Temps (PA)

Adding more on Facile Vega, Mullins said: “We’ll go to Cheltenham. High Definition’s jumping was always suspect and I think Paul didn’t want him in front of him.

“You saw what happened with Lossiemouth yesterday and Paul just had that in the back of his mind going out today.

“All our horses are well entered up and Il Etait Temps will be in the Ballymore as well.”

State Man too strong for Honeysuckle in Irish Champion

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State Man strode to a decisive victory over the gallant Honeysuckle in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The 6-5 favourite after five successive victories over hurdles so far, the Willie Mullins-trained chestnut travelled at the head of the field throughout under Paul Townend.

Honeysuckle galloped in his slipstream until the closing stages, where she was unable to follow as State Man powered on off the bend and pulled away to cross the line four and three-quarter lengths ahead.

“Paul surprised me when he came into the parade ring and I asked him what he was going to do and he said he was going to make it,” said Mullins.

“He didn’t see much to make it in the race so I said ‘OK, do that’. It worked out, the horse is not used to being in front, but he jumped well enough in front and Paul thought he was a bit idle in front as well.

Paul Townend celebrates with State Man
Paul Townend celebrates with State Man (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

“He did everything right and you couldn’t ask any more.”

When asked about the improvement in his jumping he added: “A lot of people forget that he won the County Hurdle and you don’t win that with sloppy jumping.

“In Punchestown it might have been a slow race and when it was slow he just took his time.

“When he has to be sharp he’s well able to jump very quickly. He jumped like a Champion Hurdler, I thought, all the way down the back.

“Paul asked some big questions and he came up every time. I was very happy.

“It’s nice to have a horse like him and fingers crossed that he stays right.”

Just behind Honeysuckle in third was the winner’s stablemate Vauban, and Mullins added: “I was very pleased with how Vauban finished off his race.

“He made a mistake at the first and he was a bit giddy before the race in the parade ring and didn’t like all that.

“He’s still learning and he’ll improve away. It might be next year before he’ll be the horse we think he is.”

Gentleman De Mee shocks hotpot stablemate Blue Lord

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Gentleman De Mee reversed the form with Blue Lord to land the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown.

The JP McManus-owned seven-year-old was a 15-2 shot in the Grade One for Willie Mullins and Danny Mullins, who was deputising for the injured Mark Walsh after he was stood down following a fall in the opening race.

Blue Lord was the 1-4 favourite after trouncing stablemate Gentleman De Mee by 41 lengths when the pair last met in the Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase after Christmas – but this time it was the latter who triumphed by an easy seven lengths.

Mullins said: “I was disappointed with Blue Lord. It’s fantastic for Gentleman De Mee and great for Danny. I thought Danny was very brave on him and he was asking him everywhere the whole way down the back.

“The horse was loving it and responding to him. I thought it was a terrific performance. I was very happy with his last bit of work the other morning, I thought it was as good a gallop as I’ve ever seen him do.

“Things didn’t go right for him at Christmas, possibly a little bit of drier ground here played to his strengths rather than Blue Lord’s.

“Blue Lord had a very hard race at Christmas and Paul (Townend) thought that might have had an effect, but I think maybe it was just the change of ground.

“He was a very good novice but was just disappointing at Christmas. We forget about horses very quickly in this game. He proved today that he’s still there.”

Precautionary X-rays for luckless Mark Walsh after fall

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Mark Walsh was taken for precautionary X-rays after a heavy fall at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The rider was partnering 5-2 favourite Risk Belle in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Paddy Mullins Mares Handicap Hurdle when the filly came down at the fifth flight.

Walsh, who only returned from a previous injury lay-off on Saturday, was taken to hospital for further examination, missing his later two rides on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival.

Dr Jennifer Pugh, senior medical officer for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said: “Mark Walsh has been stood down for the day following his fall in Race One.

“He has been transferred to St. Vincent’s Hospital for precautionary X-rays but was conscious at all times and moving all limbs.”

Mighty Potter far too good at Leopardstown

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Mighty Potter was a straightforward winner of the Ladbrokes Novice Chase at Leopardstown for Gordon Elliott and Davy Russell.

The even-money favourite raced near the head of the field of six throughout and was easily able to pull clear when asked around the final bend.

Comfortably ahead at the last fence, the six-year-old only pulled further away to prevail by eight and a half lengths from Adamantly Chosen.

In doing so he backed up his Grade One victory in the Drinmore Chase and gave Russell a first top-level triumph since he called a temporary halt to his retirement.

Mighty Potter came home a clear winner
Mighty Potter came home a clear winner (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

Elliott said: “He’s a good horse and we’ve got a few nice novice chasers.

“Jack (Kennedy) was full of confidence after the last day. We watched the race together and he was happy that Davy let him roll on when he did.

“The further he goes, he drops his head, gets low and gallops.

“I was a bit nervous. I thought we’d win the first but we were a bit unlucky, got a bit far back.

“A few of our big shots yesterday didn’t run and he was kind of our first real one that had to win.

“He’s settling better now, before he was keen. I love that when he gets to the front he spits it out and from the last to the line he drops his head and gallops.”

Coral make Mighty Potter the 6-4 favourite for the Turners Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and Elliott confirmed that will be the target – with Kennedy hopefully recovered from his broken leg and available to ride.

The trainer said: “The Turners is definitely where he’s going and hopefully this man beside me (Kennedy) gets the OK to be back riding him. If he doesn’t Davy is there, but we’re hoping this man is back.”

Mighty Potter was pulled up in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at last year’s Festival, but Elliott has no fears about returning to Prestbury Park.

He added: “He’s a stronger horse now. He left his hind legs in a hurdle that day and Jack didn’t knock him around.

“We probably should have pulled him up straight away, but he said he’d jump another hurdle or two to get his confidence.”

Elliott has another star novice in Gerri Colombe
Elliott has another star novice in Gerri Colombe (Steven Paston/PA)

Mighty Potter was a second Grade One winner of the weekend for Elliott, with Gerri Colombe having landed the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase over a similar trip at Sandown on Saturday.

The duo will not be clashing in the Turners though, with Gerri Colombe favourite for the three-mile Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

Elliott said: “He’s (Mighty Potter) probably a quicker horse than Gerri Colombe, but Gerri’s not bad either.

“I thought he was brilliant yesterday. He’s like a child’s pony at home, he’s so laid back.

“He was foot perfect, except for one, and we’ll go straight for the Brown Advisory now with him. I think the race will be made for him.”

Russell added that the prospect of riding Mighty Potter was instrumental in persuading him to return to the saddle, saying: “It’s a relief to have won on him.

“It was days like this that brought me back.

“I’m very grateful to all the lads for asking me and to all the owners who have supported me – it’s fantastic.”

Good Land makes no mistake for O’Connell at Leopardstown

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Good Land got punters at the Dublin Racing Festival off to a flying start when justifying favouritism in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors “50,000 Cheltenham Bonus For Stable Staff” Novice Hurdle.

Barry Connell’s seven-year-old suffered a mishap on his hurdling debut when unseating Michael O’Sullivan at the first obstacle but the pair soon made amends at the big Leopardstown Christmas meeting.

Connell and O’Sullivan had broken their Grade One ducks with Marine Nationale in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse and with that monkey off their backs headed into the two-mile-six-furlong contest full of confidence.

Sent off the 3-1 favourite on his return to the Dublin track, the only doubt his backers will have had was if Good Land had done too much in the early stages of the race, as it was clear the pace-setting Weveallbeencaught – a rare raider from Britain at this fixture – was not going fast enough for him.

Sent to the front just before the turn for home, he had Sandor Clegane to see off and when he cried enough Absolute Notions began to close, but there was a length and a half between them at the line.

O’Sullivan, unable to claim his 5lb as the race was a Grade One, punched the air in delight and Betfair cut him to 5-1 from 10s for the Ballymore at Cheltenham.

“We were expecting that. He was a course and distance winner at Christmas and never came out of a hack canter,” said Connell.

Good Land with winning connections
Good Land with winning connections (Gary Carson/PA)

“He hasn’t missed a beat since then and we were very confident today. He’s a quick horse and we didn’t think he’d mind the ground.

“We only gave him one entry at Cheltenham in the Ballymore because we have the other horse for the Supreme (Marine Nationale).

“It couldn’t have gone better, he was maybe a fraction keen over the first couple but then he got a lovely lead off Nigel’s (Twiston-Davies) horse (Weveallbeencaught).

“He never missed a beat jumping, he got a lovely blow into him turning in. He hit the front probably plenty early and he was idling in front.

“I think we are still only scratching the surface with this guy. The big plus with him is that he’s seven years of age.

“We bought him as a four-year-old from one of the point-to-point guys and gave him a run in a bumper. Then he had a few issues.”

He went on: “It’s a big advantage for these horses to have that age on their side. He’s bombproof and you could see him walking around beforehand like he was at a kid’s gymkhana.

“Marine is the same, the two of them are brilliant. We are a small operation, we have 25 horses, and we’ve had two entries in Grade Ones this season and won them both.

“He’s not slow, I won the Albert Bartlett before with Martello Tower and it is quite hard on novices. I prefer the Ballymore, he could drop back to the Supreme if something happens to the other guy but I would need to supplement him.”

On O’Sullivan he added: “He’s a find, he’s ice cool and a brilliant horseman. He rides all of ours and I’m delighted. It doesn’t matter if he claims or not.

“The good thing is that he’s 22, he’s not 16 or 17. He’s been champion point-to-point rider and he’s got his college degree now. He has maturity on his side which is a big help.”

Blue Lord part of ‘double green’ raid on Dublin Chase

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Blue Lord is widely expected to provide Willie Mullins with a sixth successive victory in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at Leopardstown on Sunday.

The champion trainer has claimed each of the previous five runnings of the Grade One contest, with Min claiming back-to-back wins in 2018 and 2019 before Chacun Pour Soi completed a hat-trick.

Blue Lord, winner of the Irish Arkle on this weekend last season, appears to have taken his game to another level this winter, with a comeback success in the Clonmel Oil Chase followed by a comprehensive defeat of Chacun Pour Soi over the Christmas period.

With his Champion Chase-winning stablemate Energumene beaten in the rescheduled Clarence House at Cheltenham last weekend, this year’s renewal of Cheltenham’s two-mile chasing showpiece has a more open look to it and connections of Blue Lord are hopeful he can cement his status as a leading contender.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Muir and Isaac Souede, said: “It is a great engagement for him. It is nice to go back to the course and distance he won over at Christmas.

“I understand he has trained fine for the race. We are really looking forward to seeing him again over two miles and hopefully all roads lead to the Champion Chase at Cheltenham after the weekend.

“The proviso is we have the option of the Ryanair at Cheltenham as an entry if we wish to try that instead. The Champion Chase division is now looking open and let’s hope for a good display like we saw at Christmas.

“He seems to have improved from his novice days a bit as well.”

Sceau Royal has been a fantastic servant to his connections
Sceau Royal has been a fantastic servant to his connections (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Blue Lord is one of two runners set to carry the ‘double green’ colours of Munir and Souede, with Alan King’s stable stalwart Sceau Royal crossing the Irish Sea to take him on.

A high-class operator over fences and hurdles, Sceau Royal is not getting any younger at the age of 11, but will at least encounter his favoured conditions on the outskirts of Dublin.

“He is in the twilight of his career, but he had been running well over hurdles,” Bromley added.

“You can put a line through his last run in the Christmas Hurdle as he made a mistake down the back and Sam (Twiston-Davies) looked after him that day.

“But he is in good form at home and likes going left-handed over fences, which is why we wanted to go to Leopardstown – he was never even entered for the Clarence House at Ascot.

“We always do hurdles for the first half of the winter with him and then he goes chasing. Normally, the Game Spirit is where he gets his first chase run of the season, but I just thought this race wouldn’t have a big field and there is much more prize-money on offer than there is at Newbury.

“He is quite old to be making his Irish debut, but it is sporting of the owners and of Alan King to bring him across and he is in nice form and will like the ground.”

Mullins has a second string to his bow in the form of Gentleman De Mee, but he finished 41 lengths behind Blue Lord at Christmas and clearly needs to improve.

Dunvegan (Pat Fahy) and Fastorslow (Martin Brassil) are the other hopefuls.

Facile Vega faces toughest test yet at Leopardstown

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Facile Vega and High Definition are all set to take each other on in a Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle not to be missed at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Already odds-on for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, that price tends to be based more around what Facile Vega achieved in bumpers last season, including a stylish victory in the championship event in March.

He has won both starts over timber to date and the son of six-times Festival winner Quevega will be all the rage for the first race of the big meeting should he win again.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins rode him in all his bumpers and said: “I suppose he has his critics but that is probably based on the price he is for the Supreme, I don’t think anyone is knocking the horse for what he’s done.

“I was more impressed than most people at Christmas, more so because of Paul’s (Townend) body language, he didn’t really ask him to race until after the last and that form has worked out, both Ashroe Diamond (third) and Path D’Oroux (fourth) have won since.

“So I think that performance was a lot better than he was given credit for at the time.”

Mullins’ father Willie will also saddle another unbeaten runner in the race in Dark Raven who defied a 631-day absence to make a winning hurdling debut at Leopardstown, form which has subsequently been franked.

“He is a horse who doesn’t show us an awful lot at home but every time he goes to the track he looks a different animal,” said Mullins jnr.

Dark Raven impressed on his return from a long absence
Dark Raven impressed on his return from a long absence (Brian Lawless/PA)

“It’s a big step up in class for him but we think he’s more than worthy of his place in the line up.”

Il Etait Temps, who has four lengths to find with Facile Vega, completes the Mullins trio.

It is far from a Mullins benefit, though, with one-time Derby favourite High Definition, now with Joseph O’Brien, looking to add to his winning hurdling debut.

“We’re looking forward to taking on Facile Vega, hopefully he runs well,” said O’Brien.

“I think he’ll improve from his first run over hurdles, as he’s entitled to. The form has worked out well, it’s a big step up in class but we’re hoping for a good run.

“It’s a big ask going from a maiden straight into a Grade One, but at this time of year it’s kind of what you have to do if you’re going to go to the big Festivals.

“Hopefully he acquits himself well and we’ll have something to look forward to for the spring.”

Gordon Elliott has always thought a lot of Irish Point and he has finished second in two Grade Ones the last twice.

“He probably has gone underneath the radar a little bit, but he is a good horse, so we are looking forward to running him,” he said.

“It’s too early to say whether he will go for the Supreme or Ballymore, but he is entered in everything.”

Henry De Bromhead’s Inthepocket is another defending an unbeaten record having won at Wexford and a Grade Two at Naas.

“The Lawlor’s was coming a bit too quick for my liking as he’d had a hard race at Naas but we’re happy enough to look at two miles as well as he travels well in his races. I think it’s a nice race to run in and we’ll see where we are afterwards,” said De Bromhead.

The Ladbrokes Novice Chase is a rarity in that it is a Grade One with a non-Mullins favourite.

Mighty Potter has made a big impression over fences
Mighty Potter has made a big impression over fences (Brian Lawless/PA)

That honour goes to Elliott’s Mighty Potter, who has been very impressive over fences to date and in his career overall bar at Cheltenham in March when everything that could go wrong did.

Joey Logan, racing manager for owners Andrew and Gemma Brown’s Caldwell Construction, said: “He worked on Wednesday and is in top form – Gordon is very happy with him.

“We’re looking forward to running him, it’s exciting to be honest.

“It was always the plan to skip Christmas and keep him fresh. Hopefully it works out for us on Sunday and then we can go on to Cheltenham.

“If everything goes to plan he’ll have a strong chance.”

Mullins runs Adamantly Chosen, Gaillard Du Mesnil, I Am Maximus, James Du Berlais and Kilcruit.