WILLIE MULLINS may have more obvious festival contenders at Cheltenham next week but the champion trainer is still fancying his chances of upsetting the Gold Cup dominance of Kauto Star and Denman with his own star chaser Cooldine.
Last year’s RSA winner has failed to win in two starts this season but showed a return to something like his best form when touched off by Joncol in the Hennessy at Leopardstown last month and Mullins has ruled out any idea of riding Cooldine for place money alone in nine days’ time.
“Some will be riding to be placed but we’ve got to ride to win and if he isn’t good enough, then so be it,” he said yesterday. “He put in a superb round of jumping at Cheltenham last year and if he jumps like that again, you wouldn’t know what might happen. If he is in the same form as last year he will give them a run for their money.”
Cooldine is currently a general 10 to 1 shot for the Gold Cup behind the Paul Nicholls-trained pair who have won the last three renewals of the blue riband between them.
Three winners in 2009 brought Mullins’s overall festival tally to 15 and he brings another powerful squad to Cheltenham this time including another of his winning trio from last year in the David Nicholson Mares Hurdle favourite Quevega.
However, the Co Carlow-based trainer has nominated Quel Esprit (Neptune Investments Hurdle) and Enterprise Park (Albert Bartlett Hurdle) as potentially his best hopes of success next week.
“On paper it looks like Quevega but she hasn’t run this season and Quel Esprit and Enterprise Park are probably my best chances,” Mullins said yesterday.
“Quevega hurt herself in France last year and the vet advice was to not come back with her. But we haven’t rushed and it looks to have paid off. From what she showed when winning at Punchestown before last year’s festival it showed she could go there without a run. That’s why we are taking a chance this year,” he added.
Cousin Vinny will take on Big Bucks in the World Hurdle after an anti-climactic campaign over fences and Mullins reported: “We are going there on a wing and a prayer. I have no doubt about the hurdles and the trip so he will take his chance.”
The race Mullins has dominated like no other is the Weatherbys Champion Bumper and he could be represented by four runners as he pursues a seventh victory in next Wednesday’s race.
Day Of A Lifetime, Bishopsfurze, Up Ou That and Lios A Choill may all appear in the Grade One with Day Of A Lifetime a best priced 10 to 1 shot.
“He won at Fairyhouse the way he was working at home,” Mullins said before pointing out that all four of his contenders have won at Fairyhouse.
“By coincidence they are all Fairyhouse winners but they are all fine horses. I’d say most of them are up to standard and may be better than one or two of the winners I’ve had.”
TIMELY RETURN TO ACTION FOR CAWLEY
THE GRADE One-winning jockey Alain Cawley looks like timing his return to action from a broken collarbone to perfection with Cheltenham starting next week, writes Brian O'Connor.
Cawley, who rode Joncol to win last month's Hennessy Gold Cup, was injured at Fairyhouse on February 20th but hopes to be back race-riding this weekend.
The Galway-born jockey is due to ride Shinrock Paddy (Albert Bartlett), Noble Prince (County Hurdle) and Chicago Grey (Coral Cup) at the festival.
"I hope to be back riding on Sunday. I saw a specialist and he told me I could return to action," Cawley said yesterday. "All being well I'll be at Cheltenham. If it all goes to plan, I'll be there."
In other news Boylesports bookmakers have been confirmed as the new sponsors of the first day of next month's Punchestown festival which runs from April 20th-24th.
The deal means the opening day highlight over two miles will be known as the Boylesports.com Champion Chase.
Paul Nicholls has won the Grade One race for the last two years with Master Minded and Twist Magic and the British champion trainer said yesterday: "We have been lucky enough to have had the last two winners. It's a great race to win and we will try to make it a hat-trick this year when we send either Master Minded or Twist Magic."
Ruby Walsh could have a good session at Naas this afternoon where the champion jockey kicks off with a new French import to Willie Mullins's yard in Sweet My Lord.
This horse won over a mile and a half in Nantes last October and goes in a maiden hurdle that looks far from impossible for a first-timer to win.
