Wednesday 15 April 2015 12:08, UK
Willie Mullins has confirmed his stable stars are all on course for the Punchestown Festival – headed by Faugheen.
He was a brilliant winner of the Stan James Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham and will be joined in the field for the Queally Group Celebrating 35 Years In Naas Punchestown Champion Hurdle by the two stablemates who chased him home at Prestbury Park.
The trainer said: "Our first three home in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham - Faugheen, Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly - definitely look likely to line up again.
“Arctic Fire doesn't seem any the worse for his Aintree fall - it was a tough fall - but he's eaten up and everything and was out on Monday morning for the first time since doing some light exercise.
"Punchestown is nearly Hurricane Fly's second home, he looks great but will have it all to do against Faugheen. I'm a huge Hurricane Fly fan so hope he might get his revenge against Faugheen but we'll see what happens.
"In the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, Thousand Stars and Zaidpour look the likely candidates, it's really the race for them. Arctic Fire is unlikely to go over three miles whilst Annie Power and Hurricane Fly have been put in there but have other options.”
Douvan kicked the Cheltenham Festival off on the best possible note for Mullins when winning the opening Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and will head next to the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle.
"Douvan is a likely runner in the Herald Champion Novice Hurdle. He's the top horse on ratings and won a Grade Two race well around the track previously in February. He is also engaged in the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles but the two-miler is more likely. Nichols Canyon, who won well at Aintree, is also a likely runner while Shaneshill is a possibility," added the trainer.
Brilliant Racing Post Arkle winner Un De Sceaux is another Mullins star bound for Punchestown.
"The Ryanair Novice Chase looks the race for Un De Sceaux, even though he holds an entry in the BoyleSports Champion Chase. Jarry D'Honneur might go there too, if he doesn't go for a handicap,” he said.
"Champagne Fever and Felix Yonger will be looking to go to the BoyleSports Champion Chase and it seems an obvious race for Twinlight. Vautour is also entered but he is more likely to run in the staying novice race.
"In the Growise Champion Novice Chase, Don Poli looks to be a good candidate - he is on course for the race and it's his best option during the week. There's a good chance Vautour will go for the race too - he definitely could line up beside Don Poli. He does have other options as well so we'll see.
"Djakadam will run in the Bibby Financial Services Punchestown Gold Cup and he's well since Cheltenham. Ballycasey and Boston Bob could also run, On His Own almost certainly will run whilst Champagne Fever has not been completely ruled out
"Annie Power looks like going to the Mares Hurdle unless we have nothing for the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle closer to the time. She's been in excellent form since Cheltenham.
"Analifet might also go - she ran very well at Fairyhouse and looks like she's only coming to herself now. Petite Parisienne and Lyrical Theatre both ran really well at Fairyhouse and I'd imagine, all being well, they could both line up here against their more experienced rivals.
"Black Hercules and Killultagh Vic are both being aimed at the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle. Outlander and Roi Des Francs look like they might run in that too whilst Shaneshill could go for the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle, while Nichols Canyon is a possible.
"Although at the moment Douvan is likely to run in the two-mile Herald Champion Novice Hurdle, it's still possible he could go for the 2m 4f race. This time last year we had nominated Vautour and Faugheen for these races and come the week we switched them around (Faugheen won the Herald Champion Novice with Vautour winning this longer race) and that can always happen.
"We are fortunate in having top novices that can go for each and the good ones have speed and they can stay as well, so we're blessed. They all seem to have come out of their races well."
