Willie Mullins has confirmed almost all his star names are on course for this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival.
Apart from Al Boum Photo, who won’t run again before bidding for a third straight Cheltenham Gold Cup next month, and Castlebawn West who is injured and out for the season, he’s expecting to take the rest of the heavy artillery to Leopardstown this weekend.
Mullins insists that this weekend should not be seen as a rehearsal for the Cheltenham Festival.
“As far as Im concerned I’m looking at Dublin Racing Festival (sic) and anything I can win there is very important this week” said Mullins.
“I’ve nothing else really on my mind, Leopardstown have provided fantastic prize money, this is a huge festival, and we are treating it with the respect it deserves to bring our best horses there, and hopefully if we get a grade one or two that would be fantastic”
Willie has three horses entered for Saturday’s Grade One Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle on day one of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
The champion trainer is set to run Saldier, Saint Roi and Sharjah. He says all three are in great form but he was particularly pleased with Sharjah’s win over course and distance at Christmas in the Matheson Hurdle.
