The Dublin Racing Festival is just around the corner – and there’s just over six weeks to Cheltenham – so signs of Willie Mullins’s all-powerful team starting to hit top gear is ominous for his rivals.
Few recognise those signs better than Gordon Elliott who has topped Ireland’s trainers’ championship for months only to feel his great rival chasing him down now spring is on the horizon.
With just over €2.7 million in prize money Elliott’s lead is shrinking by the day as Mullins closes in on €2.5 million. Once again the Closutton operation is cranking things up by several gears at just the right time, and Sunday’s Naas action may underline the point.
The unbeaten Anzadam should enjoy little more than a lucrative canter around in the three-runner Limestone Lad Hurdle. Mullins was moved to noticeably acclaim the ex-French horse on his Irish debut in November to the extent he is a general 10/1 shot for championship glory in March. Espoir D’allen warmed up in this before his own Champion Hurdle success in 2019.
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Sunday’s other Grade Three, the Finlay Novice Chase, is much more competitive, with Gavin Cromwell’s impressive Limerick-winning mare Bioluminescence taking on some good geldings. This stamina test should be ideal for Dancing City, though. He was a top-flight novice hurdler last season who did little wrong on his chasing debut at Punchestown.
Even before his jumping debut the €315,000 purchase Charlus is already 25/1 for the Triumph Hurdle, while newcomer Adiemus is a major player in the bumper. Some Mullins horses didn’t fire over Christmas and Sunday’s maiden hope Kalix Delabarriere could have been one of them.
Before all of that Mullins also has a handful of declarations for Saturday’s Fairyhouse programme, including a trio in the Grade Three SBK Solerina Hurdle.
The impact of Storm Eowyn meant there was no power at Fairyhouse on Friday, but manager Peter Roe said: “Any damage was superficial, just a few structural items, although there’s a lot of rail down. But we’re fine for racing.”
The 2019 winner Honeysuckle is the most famous name on the feature race’s roll of honour, and Paul Townend clearly believes Aurora Vega is the most likely new addition to it. He has picked her from the Mullins trio that also includes Baby Kate and Fancy Girl.
Townend’s judgement was vindicated when he picked Thursday’s Thyestes winner Nick Rockett, although he did get it wrong last Sunday when Appreciate It landed the Thurles feature.
Aurora Vega is a daughter of another famous mare in Quevega and impressively bounced back to winning form over the track on New Year’s Day.
Kawaboomga is the Mullins hope for a very decent looking maiden hurdle in which Henry De Bromhead runs Koktail Divin. Both might be upset, however, by William Munny. Barry Connell’s smart bumper performer was runner up to De Bromhead’s Workahead at Leopardstown over Christmas, and should step up from that effort.
Also on Saturday Jessica Harrington’s focus returns to Doncaster where Jetara goes in a three-mile Grade Two mares contest. James Bowen takes the ride. Jetara sports first time cheekpieces on the back of her last start when third to July Flower and Kala Conti on the final day of Leopardstown’s Christmas festival. Prior to that the Irish hope had run fifth to Home By The Lee in Navan’s Lismullen Hurdle.
Among her opposition is the impressive course and distance winner Wyenot, although it is Dan Skelton’s Kateira, fifth to Crambo in Ascot’s Long Walk, who is expected to top the betting.
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