Speculation that Willie Mullins’s subpar Christmas might endure into the new year has proved well wide of the mark, a point that could get underlined at Cork on Saturday.
The champion trainer will have high hopes for all three of his runners, starting with the latest French recruit to make his Irish debut, Kiss Will, in the opening maiden hurdle.
Fears, or maybe hope among his rivals, that the all-powerful Closutton operation might be under the weather came from a leaner than usual festive period that yielded “just” seven winners.
However, Mullins surpassed that tally in just 24 hours earlier this week, including a New Year’s Day six-timer between Tramore and Fairyhouse.
Cork must pass an 8am inspection on Saturday in advance of potential heavy rain or snow later in the afternoon.
Kiss Will was a €280,000 purchase after a decent bumper effort in France in 2023 and looks the one to beat in the first. Jump Allen is another Mullins maiden contender while Introversio is a promising bumper newcomer.
Uncertainty surrounding weekend action due to weather problems both in Ireland and Britain was illustrated by Friday’s Musselburgh cancellation just minutes before the first scheduled race.
Horses were entering the parade ring when the decision to cancel was made following a final midday inspection. There had been four previous inspections as hopes persisted of a thaw in frozen ground.
Saturday’s Newcastle card was cancelled on Friday as the track was “frozen in places with no improvement forecast”.
With temperatures of minus 3 expected overnight, Wincanton will inspect at 8am on Saturday. The situation at Saturday’s top cross-channel fixture in Sandown is being monitored.
JJ Slevin will be on duty at Sandown with one ride for his new employers, Simon Munir and Isaac Souede. Mr Barrowclough hasn’t been seen in almost two years but the former bumper winner lines up in a maiden hurdle.
If there’s uncertainty about this weekend’s action, the longer-term route appears open for Energumene to take on Jonbon in Ascot’s Grade One Clarence House Chase later this month.
The former dual-Champion Chase winner returned from a prolonged period on the injury sidelines with success in last month’s Hilly Way at Cork.
The perspective on that performance has changed considering how Banbridge, who unseated his rider at the last in Cork, subsequently landed the King George at Kempton on his first start at three miles.
Energumene will try to become just the second horse to land the Queen Mother Champion Chase three times at Cheltenham in March although a pre-festival clash with ante-post favourite Jonbon is on the cards in two weeks’ time.
“I spoke to Willie [Mullins] just before the Christmas period and he said he was fine and came out of the Hilly Way in great form,” said Sean Graham, spokesman for Energumene’s owner, Tony Bloom.
“Banbridge has gone and franked that form a bit by winning a King George, but Willie has also pointed out Dinoblue [10 lengths second] didn’t run so well after that – so you could say one line of form says it’s been franked and another says it hasn’t.
“He’s in great form and we just hope the ground turns up soft at Ascot, as the softer the better for him.
“We certainly will not hide from the race and if conditions are right and the ground is soft and not too quick, then that is the race we are aiming for. I haven’t heard anything different since speaking to Willie, so I assume it is the same,” he added.
Energumene finished runner-up to Jonbon’s former stable companion Shishkin in a memorable Clarence House clash three years ago.
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