RACING:THE STRENGTH of Willie Mullins's yard has been obvious throughout the major holiday prizes at Leopardstown this week and the champion trainer can also make his presence felt immediately at Tramore's fixture today with an opening double.
Wee Giant lines up for the novice hurdle having scored on his sole start to date over flights at Downpatrick in the Autumn.
He has run twice since on the flat, finishing runner-up to Table Mountain at Navan before running sixth to What A Charm in the November Handicap at Leopardstown.
However, a return to jumping should spark a return to winning form for the Mullins runner.
His stable companion Riltree has proved expensive to follow in two bumper starts but is clearly regarded as better than ordinary by connections and she can start proving that in the mares maiden hurdle.
Yeoman is 6lb higher for winning at Clonmel on his last start but that may not be enough to stop him following up in the two and a half mile handicap hurdle.
n Dermot Weld is likely to finalise a programme for Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage in the next two weeks. The Curragh trainer has to decide whether to run the Giant’s Causeway gelding over hurdles this winter or save him for another visit to Royal Ascot in June.
“He’s in great form, he’s back cantering,” Weld said yesterday. “We’ll make up our minds in a couple of weeks time whether he comes back over hurdles or not, or whether we will train him specifically for the Gold Cup again.”
Rite Of Passage finished third to Peddlers Cross and Reve De Sivola at Cheltenham in March.
