Willie Mullins has confirmed he expects to saddle more than 40 horses at the Cheltenham Festival next month, despite the absence of a number of his stable stars.
Faugheen (pictued above), Annie Power and Min lead the stay at homes but Mullins team will be headed by the all conquering Douvan, who bids to give Ireland’s Champion Trainer his first win in the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase.
He won’t decide until next week whether Limini is supplemented for the Champion Hurdle on the first day.
Meanwahile, champion amateur Patrick Mullins is set for some mouthwatering rides at next months Cheltenham Festival.
The 27 year old is also assistant to his father, and has given a strong hint that if all goes well he’ll ride Carter McKay in the Champion Bumper, a race in which he and his father have enjoyed enormous success.
Speaking ahead of the start of the Cheltenham Festival which is now less than two weeks away, Patrick says the Gold Cup is wide open.
“Third time lucky would be fantastic”, says Mullins.
“We have been very close in the Gold Cup but we have never actually got there. Last year when he got the fall in the Cotswolds Chase, the Betbright Chase, he got a bad cut underneath his legs and that just meant he didn’t have a particularly ideal preparation so there is a little room for improvement, he’s only 8.”
“The two horses that have beaten them in Gold Cups aren’t there and this looks a very open year so for me, he has as good a chance as any other horse.”
Keep an eye out on the Fanzone for our Cheltenham tips ahead of this year’s festival.
