Danny Mullins is confident Black Hercules will head to this season’s Cheltenham Festival with a ‘leading chance’.
Black Hercules was sent off favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at the Festival last season, but trailed home a disappointing seventh behind Martello Tower.
However, he has always been viewed as a chaser in the making and he made a winning start over fences over 2m4f at Navan last month.
He built on that success when landing the Listed Hampton Novices’ Chase over 3m at Warwick on Saturday and he jumped superbly out in front for Mullins.
The RSA Chase or the National Hunt Chase over 4m are Black Hercules’ likely Festival target and the jockey feels Willie Mullins‘ horse will head to Cheltenham with a live chance.
“He’s a very good jumper, he stays and he’s honest, so he’s got everything you want,” Mullins told Racing UK.
“Cheltenham, maybe last year it (the ground) got a bit sloppy at the end of the week and I don’t think that was his true running. This year he’ll be going there with a leading chance.
“I’m sure Ruby [Walsh] will be taking him back off me by then!”
