Busy Christmas period in store for Willie Mullins
Trainer Willie Mullins Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Closutton powerhouse Willie Mullins will take aim at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival next week as he begins to ramp up preparations for the Cheltenham Festival in March.
Four days of racing kick off on Boxing Day at Leopardstown and rolls all the way through to December 29, with Mullins holding plenty of strong hands across the three days at the current entry stage, which will likely come down over the next few days before declarations, Read below for a rundown of Mullins’ entries and possible runners across the Festival courtesy of BoyleSports, who will be offering the best Leopardstown Christmas Festival odds throughout the four days.
11.40 - Final Diamond
12.00 - Kaid d’Authie, Zillow, Kopek Des Bordes, Kawaboomga, Kalix Delabierre
12.35 - Redemption Day, Joyeur Masque
1.10 - Willy De Houelle, Sonny Bill, Lady Vega Allen
1.45 - Jonny Blue
2.20 - High Class Hero, Quai De Bourbon, Impaire Et Passe
3.30 - Green Splendour, Eclipse Chaser, Heffay
All eyes on day one for Mullins will likely be on Impaire Et Passe in the Grade 1 Racing Post Novice Chase, a best price 5/4 favourite having taken to chasing very well when landing a beginners chase at Fairyhouse three weeks ago and the six-year-old likely to head to Cheltenham in March with the Arkle, Brown Advisory and Stayers’ Hurdle all on the agenda.
12.05 - Saint Lucie, Lincoln Du Seuil, Last Kingdom
12.35 - Champ Kiely, Mistergif, Western Diego, Shanbally Kid, It’s For Me, Lisnagar Fortune, Westport Cove
1.10 - Gentleman De Mee, Blue Lord, Gaelic Warrior, Dinoblue
1.45 - Plontier, Sea Of Sands, Gaucher, Karafan, Ballygunner Castle, Salvator Mundi, Karniquet
2.20 - King Alexander, Storm Heart, Batman Girac, Ethical Diamond, Bunting
3.00 - Janidil, Aime Desjy, Glengouly, Chavez, Adamantly Chosen, Nick Rockett, Horantzou d’Airy, Klarc Kent, Spanish Harlem, Macdermott
3.30 - Green Splendour, Leaky Cauldron, Soir De Garde, Eclipse Chaser, Drop A Threat
Plenty of potential runners on day two for Mullins at Leopardstown but the standout is arguably Gaelic Warrior in the Grade 1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase, winner of the Arkle at Cheltenham earlier this year and will be taking on the likes of Found A Fifty, Marine Nationale, Banbridge and stablemate Dinoblue on day two at Leopardstown. Another Mullins runner that has been dubbed as a potential superstar that could appear on day two is Salvator Mundi, entered for the Supreme at Cheltenham and won by a whopping 62 lengths at Tipperary earlier this year.
12.20 - Kaid d’Authie, Zillow, Kopek Des Bordes, Kawaboomga, Kalix Delabarriere
1.20 - Champ Kiely, High Class Hero, O’Moore Park, Shanbally Kid, Loughglynn, Captain Cody, Quai De Bourbon
2.00 - Asterion Forlonge, Sir Gerhard 2.35 - Galopin Des Champs, I Am Maximus, Minella Cocooner, Grangeclare West, Fact To File
3.05 - King Alexander
3.40 - Leaky Cauldron, Soir De Garde, Eclipse Chaser, Drop A Threat
The Grade 1 Savills Chase is the race of the day on day three and Mullins could have two absolute powerhouses line up with two-time reigning Cheltenham Gold Cup champion Galopin Des Champs and recent John Durkan winner Fact To File taking each other on once again, just as they did at Punchestown a few weeks ago
12.10 - Joystick, Sounds Victorious, Port Joulain, Argento Boy, Jump Allen
12.45 - Strutter, Johnny Blue
1.20 - Got Glory, Risk Belle, Lot Of Joy, Just For Love
2.30 - Winter Fog, State Man, Sir Gerhard, Lossiemouth, Daddy Long Legs, Meetingofthewaters, Mystical Power
3.05 - Risk Belle, Paggone, Tounsivator
3.40 - Sortudo
The final day of racing will likely see the ultra-impressive State Man back on track having been beaten by Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown and the duo will lock horns once again in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Hurdle. Lossiemouth holds an entry here as well but is likely Kempton-bound instead over the Christmas period to take on superstar Constitution Hill in the Christmas Hurdle.
