Willie Mullins offered plenty of Cheltenham pointers at his stable visit in the week, with the ever-growing media scrum assembled in Closutton for the Irish Champion Trainer's visit on Monday. Mullins confirmed his impression that Douvan, 2/7 NRNB with BetVictor for the Queen Mother Champion Chase, could be ‘the best I've ever trained' and has challenged the superstar to match his expectations at the second day of next month's festival.
Reading between the lines it would appear that the money for Limini to be rerouted towards the Champion Hurdle would be justified, (backed into 9/2 from 10s with BetVictor last week) with the Closutton handler confirming he is ‘seriously considering' rerouting last year's festival winner from the OLBG Mares' Hurdle on Day 1 of the Festival.
Mullins' strong grip of the Mares' race isn't dampened however, with Vroum Vroum Mag 6/4 with BetVictor to win back-to-back renewals and one of three likely runners for the yard, bidding to win the race for a 7th successive season. She was beaten fair and square by Apple's Jade in the Hatton's Grace at Fairyhouse earlier in the season and I think Gordon Elliott's mare is a fair price at 5/2 to confirm the form in a fortnight's time.
Tom George looks set to enjoy a fruitful spring, with Double Shuffle and Saint Are on course for Aintree after their respective runs last week, and the yard must go close with Fountains Windfall (2.10) in the Wincanton opener under Adrian Heskin. The selection makes his debut for the yard after two excellent runs in handicap company for former handler Anthony Honeyball; 7th in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton and third when upped in trip last time out at Sandown. Back in novice company he must go close under a penalty.
The pair must go close with Ballinvarrig (3.10) in the feature handicap chase over two and a half miles. The selection had everything in his favour when scoring last time out at Leicester, going right-handed over two and a half miles on soft ground, and has likewise conditions to defy a 10lb rise at the weights.
Kerry Lee's Town Parks (2.40) was given a canny ride from Richard Johnson to score last time out at Ludlow and the pair should combine again to follow-up in the Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. The Champion Jockey made every yard to score at the right-handed track and can do likewise now sent handicapping from an opening mark of 128.
There's turf action elsewhere from Ffos Las and Musselburgh, with Swift Crusader (2.20) fancied to land the opener at the former in South Wales for the team of Evan Williams and Adam Wedge. The selection chased home De Dollar Man in a point-to-point in his native Ireland, with the winner scoring twice under rules for the Williams yard subsequently. Swift Crusader looks well-placed to do likewise and can make a winning debut under rules at the expense of thrice-raced maiden Bob Mahler.
The forecast heavy ground should be see West Wizard (2.50) return to winning ways after scoring at the track two starts back. The former Seven Barrows inmate looked better than every when scoring for new trainer Paul Morgan two starts back and can score for the second time over the larger obstacles with Davy Russell in the plate.
The pair can complete quick-fire doubles with Paddy's Motorbike (3.50) attempting to concede weight all round in the Handicap Hurdle over two and a half miles. The selection has shown little in a trio of novice hurdles but was rated 92 on the level and could be potentially chucked-in over timber from an opening mark of 115.
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