Mullins eyes French Champion Hurdle success

Epsom will be the international focus today, and California Chrome's triple crown attempt will concentrate minds on tonight's Belmont Stakes in New York. But even in the midst of summer Willie Mullins still has a pair of Grade One jumping targets in his sights in Paris tomorrow.

Ireland’s champion jumps trainer runs a trio – Thousand Stars, Diakali and Zaidpour – in the €370,000 French Champion Hurdle as he pursues a fifth win in the race.

Thousand Stars won the Grande Course De Haies D’Auteuil in 2011 and 2012 and warmed up for another attempt with a success in last month’s Prix La Barka.

Katie Walsh teams up with her old ally again while her brother Ruby will be on board Diakali who ran third in the Barka but proved his Auteuil credentials with a win in last year's Prix Alain Du Breil, the French version of the Triumph Hurdle.

Zaidpour (Paul Townend) is on the third Mullins starter while Barry Geraghty teams up with the other Irish hope, Bog Warrior, from Michael O'Leary's Gigginstown Stud.

Ruby Walsh’s presence on Diakali will be pounced upon by many though and Mullins said yesterday: “Diakali learned a lot from his prep last year to win the big four-year-old race. If he can make the same level of improvement again from the Barka, he must go with a major chance.”

Harasiya can oblige

Mullins runs Abbyssial (Ruby Walsh) and Gitane Du Berlais (Jacques Ricou) in this year’s Alain Du Breil, a €270,000 race that Walsh also won in 2005 on Strangely Brown.

It's an all-flat weekend at home with the Curragh featuring the Listed Silver Stakes where Harasiya can return to action with a win. It looks significant that the Aga Khan team are persevering with Harasiya for a third season. Oxx also runs Qewy, who shares top weight with Parish Hall.

Decent ground at the Curragh would mean System Overland should be tough to beat in the 10-furlong maiden.

Money Spider can defy a 5lb penalty in tonight's Limerick finale.