Mullins targets Newbury mission to land Betfair Hurdle

It is almost a decade since Essex scored the last Irish-trained success in the prestigious Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, but Willie Mullins will try to bridge that gap with Smashing who heads a two-pronged cross-channel raid this afternoon.

Mullins's Grade One-winning mare Glen's Melody returns to Warwick for a Listed Mares Hurdle, a month after scoring at the track under David Casey who again takes the ride.

Andrew Lynch will be the jockey on board Smashing, winner of both his starts in Ireland since arriving from France, and who will relish the testing underfoot conditions should Newbury survive an inspection this morning.

Tarla returns
Champion trainer Mullins will also be prominent on the home front where the prolific mare Tarla returns to action at Naas in the Opera Hat Chase.

Tarla faces the talented Byerley Babe, winner over Une Artiste at Thurles last month, who has an edge in race fitness but who is 8lbs wrong on official ratings with her rival.

Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud will attempt to dominate the bumper with the wide-margin Leopardstown winner No More Heroes and the giant Milsean who won at Navan last month.

Mullins should know where he stands with No More Heroes, though in form terms and the conditions should suit Milsean.