**Willie Mullins Cheltenham Team**

CHELTENHAM TEAM
Ballyhaunis
6 b g Daylami – Ballet
He has done very little wrong this season winning twice over hurdles at Listowel and Thurles. On his final effort he was a very good second to Hidden Cyclone in the Grade 2 Synergy Security Solutions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown in January. I have entered him in both the Supreme and Neptune Novices’ hurdles at Cheltenham, but I think we may go down the handicap route. He is in the Coral Cup and on better ground would definitely have a chance.
Bishopsfurze
6 b g Broadway Flywer – Supreme Dipper
He has been a super horse to train winning five of his eight starts. His only defeat last season was in the Festival Bumper behind Cue Card and he still came out the best of my runners. This season he won his maiden hurdle first time out at Cork over 2m. After a poor run at Naas over the New Year he has won over 2m 6f twice, at Thurles and Clonmel. He had been progressing nicely but was disappointing at the weekend at Thurles. In light of that effort I would think he is unlikely to make the journey over. It was a shame as I think there is better to come from him.
Blackstairmountain
6 b g Imperial Ballet – Sixhills
He rounded last season off in great style when beating stablemate Flat Out in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle at Punchestown. This term he has only raced twice, with the most recent at Punchestown very encouraging. He was short-headed by Rick over 2m 4f but the ground was heavy and I am sure he is a better horse when the ground is quicker. The plan for him looks like being the County Hurdle, where he is currently on a competitive mark.
Blazing Tempo
7 b m Accordion – Leading Duke
I like this mare a lot and she has done nothing but improve since winning her first hurdle 13 months ago at Leopardstown. This season she won over fences first time out in the Grade 3 TA Morris Memorial Mares Chase at Clonmel. We dropped her in trip to 2m on New Year’s Eve at Punchestown where she again struck at Grade 3 level. On her last run she was second to For Bill at Thurles in an effort to complete a hat-trick of Grade 3s. She has entries in the Arkle, RSA, Centenary Novices Handicap and Jewson Novices’ Chase, but I will assess her handicap weight before making a decision. She is still progressing and if the ground dries a little will make her presence felt.
Call The Police
8 b g Accordion – Evangelica
He looked a nice young hurdler two years ago then he had an injury that kept him off the track for over two years. He returned to action in the e80,000 MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown in January when finishing second to stable mate Final Approach. That was a terrific effort after 25 months off. He came out of the race well and won nicely at Punchestown two weeks ago over 2m 4f. He has an entry in the Coral Cup and we will look very carefully at his new handicap mark before making a decision as to whether or not to run or leave him at home.
C’Est Ca
7 b g Groom Dancer – Known Class
Got his head in front at the four time of asking over fences last Saturday at Navan over 2m 4f in heavy ground. He jumped well and stayed on strongly after the last. Testing conditions don’t frighten him and he goes on much better ground too. I would say he is more likely to go for the Centenary Novices  Handicap than the NH Chase.
Day Of A Lifetime
6 b g King’s Theatre – Pheisty
He is an interesting young horse who is by the sire of the moment King’s Theatre and he made a winning debut in a Fairyhouse bumper 12 months ago. I then rated him highly enough to take him to England for the Cheltenham Bumper. He has his first run back at Leopardstown in January when wining a 21-runner maiden hurdle. I had hope to give him another outing before the Festival, but unfortunately he sustained a stone bruise. This means he will be going there with a lack of experience, but will be a fresh horse. He is in the Supreme and Neptune (likely to go for the latter) and despite his lack of experience I think with his ability I am happy to take my chances. I rate him quite highly as he is a horse that has always shown ability at home.
Final Approach
5 b g Pivotal – College Fund Girl.
He did us proud this season when taking the MCR Hurdle (formerly The Ladbroke and Irish Sweeps Hurdle to name but two of its titles) from 25 rivals. It was only his fourth run over hurdles, so to win such a tough race with such an inexperienced horse was terrific for his connections. I had planned to run him in the Totesport Hurdle at Newbury last month, but after it was rescheduled six days later I felt it was too close to Cheltenham for him to recover properly, so we left him at home. He was raised 10lb to a mark of 133 for his big-race win and the plan is to go to the Festival for either the County Hurdle or Coral Cup, but we will look at the handicap marks and make a decision. The County is the plan at the moment. I would expect him to go well as that would still be a reasonable mark and we know he can handle himself in these big-field handicaps.
Fiveforthree
9 gr g Arzanni – What A Queen
He has been a cracking horse in his younger years when notably successful at Cheltenham taking the Ballymore Properties Novices’ Hurdle and the World Series Hurdle at Punchestown. He was then off the track for almost two when making a winning comeback last month, beating Newmill by 4L at Punchestown over 2m. We have been aiming him at the World Hurdle all season and so long as that recent comeback race hasn’t taken the edge off him then he will travel to Prestbury Park.
Gagewell Flyer
7 br g Deploy – Drumcay Polly
He has really taken well to hurdling this season winning over 2m at Navan in November, before following up at Naas and Punchestown in January. He’s won from 2m to 2m 4f and is quite versatile trip wise. His intended target all winter has been the Neptune but I think I might take up the Albert Bartlett option the more I think about it. He’s done nothing wrong this season and is fully entitled to be in the team
Golden Silver
9 b g Mansonnien – Gold or Silver
He has been a great servant to us and is one of the leading two-milers in Ireland. This season he has won his last three runs, which have included a ½ L beating of Big Zeb in the Grade 2 Tied Cottage Stakes at Punchestown in January. On his most recent outing when winning the Grade 2 Paddypower.com Chase at Naas, he didn’t face a stiff task, but proved his well-being. I think he is as good as he has ever been and if the Queen Mother Champion Chase were in Ireland he would be a seriously strong candidate. We are going to take him over to England this month for the Champion Chase, but I am beginning to wonder if there is something about the place that he doesn’t particularly like as in two efforts at the Festival he has run failed to sparkle both times.  So to be honest we are going there more in hope than in expectation this year.
Hurricane Fly
7 b g Montjeu – Scandisk
What an absolute star he has been winning nine of his 11 races for us over jumps and what is more amazing is that seven of them were Grade 1s. Due to niggly problems he has never been across the Irish Sea to Cheltenham, but we aim to rectify that this month for the Champion Hurdle. I think he has proved to be the best in his own country now he must take on the best of the English. His form is very strong and I can’t fault him in any way. I have read that some are questioning why he has never been to Cheltenham before, but there have been good reasons in the past and anyway he has travelled further than Cheltenham in his life. Don’t forget we took him to Auteuil for the Prix de Longchamp Hurdle in 2008 – which he won. Again people ask me do I fear Binocular or Menorah, or whichever horse in the Champion. My answer is quite simply that my aim is to get Hurricane Fly to the course in the best possible condition and that is all I can do. As for underfoot conditions he has won on everything from good to heavy, so I won’t be too concerned about it.
J’y Vole
8 ch m Mansonnien – J’y Reste
A Grade 1 winning mare that has done well over the years for us, has been a little disappointing overall this season. She put in a very good run when a three-quarter-length second to Tranquil Sea in the John Durkan at Fairyhouse in December, but two subsequent runs at Leopardstown and Thurles have been below par. She has been given entries in both the Champion and Ryanair Chases at Cheltenham and the aim will be the latter. I am just hoping that she can step up on her previous efforts because if she was at the top of her game she would have an each-way chance.
Kempes
8 b g Intikhab – Unicamp
Now he has turned eight he seems to have really matured mentally and the confidence he has gained from his jumping is there for al to see. After finishing last season with a victory in the Grade 1 Champion Novice Chase at Punchestown he really thrived through the summer months. He didn’t return to action until mid December and two runs during that month really put him spot on. I was delighted with his victory in the Grade 1 Hennessy Gold Cup last month at Leopardstown, where I thought his jumping and resolution were both to be applauded. The ground was officially heavy and I feel he is better on drier ground. He goes for the Gold Cup and I would be delighted if he finished in the first four.
Mikael D’Haguenet
7 b g Lavirco – Fleur D’haguenet
‘Mikael’ has been a wonderful hurdler winning two Grade 1s during his novice season. At that time he looked a very special horse and one who we hoped could emulate those achievements over fences, if not better them! Unfortuantely he has had a litany of problems throughout his career and it maybe that he is not going to be the same horse as he was when hurdling. I don’t know, but it is possible they may have taken their toll on him. If you could see him work at home you would think he was the same horse of two years ago, but he has failed to produce it on the track. He was unlucky to fall at Fairyhouse in December when it looked as if he had the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase at his mercy, but he never fired at all next time at Leopardstown. Most recently at Leopardstown in the Grade 1 Dr P.J. Moriarty Novices’ Chase he was travelling very well until the penultimate flight when Quel Esprit’s fall almost brought him to a standstill. He did well to get back into the race, but I am not sure he would have won anyway. He did work with some others last Sunday and worked adequately. My dilemma with him is do I go for the Arkle or the RSA and at the moment I am leaning to the longer race which will suit him better.. As a hurdler he would have had the toe for both races.
Morning Supreme
8 b m Supreme Leader – Portryan
She has been novice chasing this season and won her only completed start – 2m 4f Beginners’ Chase by a distance – however, she has fallen in the other two. Clearly when it all comes together she is very smart, but only one complete round from three isn’t a good enough record to go to Cheltenham with. I have her in the Arkle, but she might not be a sharp enough jumper at that speed so I am going to give her an entry into the mares’ hurdle. Although she completed a hat-trick over hurdles last season, she wasn’t the most fluent of jumpers, but I am hoping that having been chasing it will have improved her hurdling skills. If so then she would be an interesting runner.
Mourad
6 ch g Sinndar – Mouramara
Mourad is one of those wonderfully genuine horses that tries his best every time he runs, a fact backed up by a career record over jumps of never having been out of the first four in 14 outings, with fives wins among them. This season he faced an impossible task first time when meeting Hurricane Fly off level weights in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle but still ran him to 5L. When he was stepped up to 3m next time at for the Grade 2 Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and won cosily on ground which was much softer than he would prefer. He followed up in January with another authoritative victory in the Grade 2 Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park. We have to go for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle as there are no other options. I genuinely think he is improving with age and maturing into a very smart hurdler. He must have a small each-way chance, in what looks a very good renewal of the race.
Quel Esprit
7 gr g Saint Des Saints – Jeuene D’Esprit
A very smart hurdler I thought he would be an even better chaser, but to date he has only raced twice over the larger obstacles, winning the first time easily over 2m 4f and then falling in the Grade 1 Dr P.J. Moriarty Chase at Leopardstown last month at the second last. I have to confess I was a little disappointed last time as he appeared to surrender too quickly. He jumped very well in some public schooling last Sunday and judged on the evidence of that his confidence doesn’t appear to have been shaken.  He has several Cheltenham entries and of those I would lean towards either the National Hunt Chase or the RSA Chase.
Quevega
7 b m Robin Des Champs – Vega IV
She is a real star having won the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham for the past two seasons, and she still only seven! I haven’t run her this season yet as she is a mare that always has little problems and I am no sure I want to risk her before the spring, so we have kept her under wraps for the big day. She is in very good form at home and I hope she can repeat the dose of the past two Festivals. I can report that she seems as good as ever and I hope to produce her at Cheltenham in the same form as last year. We would of course look to Punchestown again after Cheltenham.
Raptor
6 gr g Caballo Raptor – Tiwa
Formerly trained in France he is a nice horse that has plenty of potential. He has run just the once since joining the team here in Carlow when winning a 2m 4f Punchestown maiden hurdle from 20 opponents. He beat Westmeath by a comfortable 3L and the runner-up has since franked the form beating some smart types at Leopardstown last Sunday. He definitely goes for the Albert Bartlett. He will be a much better horse next season when he goes chasing, but before then I think he could be an interesting runner at Cheltenham. There is a lot of improvement still to come from him and I would describe him as a nice each-way long shot.
Scotsirish
10 b g Zaffaran – Serjitak
He has been a little disappointing this season and hasn’t actually won for over a year now. He was a good third to Big Zeb at Clonmel in November but two subsequent runs were very ordinary. He has several entries for the Festival, but if he comes over at all it will more than likely be for the Byrne Group Plate, but I would want to see the ground dry out for him.
Sir Des Champs
5 b g Robin Des Champs – Liste En Tete
He is an interesting horse that came to us having won a 2m 2f hurdle at Auteuil last spring. He has run just the once for me when landing a 2m hurdle at Navan in January in soft ground. He is a possible for the Coral Cup.
Some Target
7 b g Witness Box – Bayloughbess
He was a fair hurdler but has already earned a higher chase handicap mark after wining a valuable Punchestown handicap chase over Christmas. He jumped extremely well and battled hard when he had to. The handicapper raised him 9lb for that, but it was hard to argue with his assessment. I feel there is more to come from him and he is not on a bad mark. I schooled him at Leopardstown on Sunday and he went very well. He is nicely on target for the National Hunt Chase.
So Young
5 b g Lavirico – Honey
I would think this fellow could be one of our more interesting runners. Having won three bumpers he made a winning start over hurdles when taking a 2m 4f Leopardstown contest over the Christmas period by 16L. He proved his well-being last month at Punchestown when dropping back to 2m and winning very impressively. I dropped him in trip and class on that occasion so it didn’t teach us too much. It is quite interesting actually because at home he looks a stayer, but on the track he appears to go that bit faster. In my experience that is the sign of a good horse. I can see plenty more improvement in him. He’s entered all over the place but I would think the Neptune is the preferred option over the Supreme. He is better than average.
Sweet My Lord
5 b g Johann Quatz – Hasta Manana
We thought a lot of him last year and he has definitely improved again this season. Having started off with a good second at Punchestown he followed up over Christmas with victory at Limerick over 2m 3f. I felt he was worth sending over to England for the Totesport Hurdle, but the one thing that race taught us was that he is not yet mature enough for the top 2m handicap hurdles. I am still not sure if he will head to England for the second time in a month or not. If he does then the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Hurdle would be his likely target as he’s unlikely to get in the Coral Cup.
The Midnight Club
10 ch g Flemensfirth – Larry’s Peach
He has twice been over to the Festival and finished third on each occasion, but will be staying at home this time. He has only had two runs this season, the first a very good ¾L second to Seigemaster at Gowran Park over 3m in January. He also ran last week at Fairyhouse in the Grade 2 Bobbyjo Chase and  was delighted with him as he jumped and travelled well before knuckling down to see off Arbor Supreme. The Grand National is his target and so far all has gone well. He has a fair handicap mark. I was asked how he compared with my Grand National winner Hedgehunter at this stage and all I can honestly say is that to win the great race the horse has to be able to stay and jump well. He ticks both of those boxes.
Thousand Stars
7 gr g Grey Risk – Livaniana
Having enjoyed a great time last season culminating with a 3L victory in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham, this year has been a lot harder. Having started last season off on a mark of 107 he eneded up on 163 so he was never going to find it easy. His last two runs in Grade 1 company have seen him finishing roughly the same distance behind Hurricane Fly, but that is no disgrace at all. I am looking at the Champion Hurdle for him because I think the long uphill finish will play to his strengths as it did at last year’s Festival. He certainly deserves to take his chance in the race.
Zaidpour
5 b g Red Ransom – Zainta
He was bred by the Aga Khan and as you would expect has a very strong pedigree. From day one he looked a smart prospect and won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown in good style from 21 rivals. He followed up in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, again with the minimum of fuss. However he has been beaten twice since, but I would suggest readers put a line through his penultimate run – the less said the better. Last time he did disappoint me and it could be that that is as good as he is, but I don’t think so. He didn’t show that much speed on that occasion and I know judged on his Flat form he is much faster than that, so it couldn’t have been his true running. It could also be that it was left-handed and he prefers going right-handed, which if that is the case doesn’t bode well for Cheltenham. He is very likely to go to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, which is shaping up into one of the best races of the week. I know he has been beaten on his last two runs, but I feel there could be reasons for both and I still have a lot of faith in him and rate him possibly my best chance of the week.


BUMPERS
Allure of Illusion
5 ch g Captain Rio – Sixhills
He is a half-brother to Blackstairmountin and like his relation his talented sibling he is a strong individual. I started him off in a Killarney bumper last August and then put him away as he doesn’t want soft ground. For those who like interesting facts he started off winning a summer bumper in county Kerry just as Joe Cullen did before winning the Cheltenham Bumper. It would be great if lightening could strike twice! Although he hasn’t run since August I am not in the slightest concerned as he is working well and in great form.
Lord Gale
5 ch g Bach – Wire Lady
He is a fine big chasing type for the future, but he showed plenty of toe to win his bumper at Navan last month on heavy ground. I was very happy with the manner of his victory and it is all systems go for the Festival Bumper for him now. I think he would prefer a little give underfoot at Cheltenham, but being by Bach I would expect him to go on better ground. He has answered all the questions I have asked of him at home and looks an exciting prospect.
Tusa Eire
5 b g Turtle Island – Neeto
He made his debut at Naas over the New Year holiday when second over 2m. He certainly learned a lot from that experience because at the end of the month he ran at Fairyhouse and was a comfortable winner. He is by Turtle Island which would suggest he wants plenty of cut underfoot, but that doesn’t always follow because we brought Scolardy [a son of Turtle Island] over to the Festival and he won the Triumph Hurdle on good ground, so I am not too concerned at the ground. He is a nice type who will make a fine steeplechaser in time.
Vesper Bell
5 b g Beneficial – Fair Choice
He is a lovely big chasing type who made a winning debut on heavy ground at Fairyhouse last weekend when getting the better of Aupcharlie by a neck. It took him a long time for the penny to drop but when it did he got up to beat a a horse with very good place form. I think him will improve a lot for that run.
Twigline
4 b f Martaline – Natty Twigy
She won a bumper at Lyon Parilly in May of last year before coming to us. I had hoped to start her over hurdles, hence the entry in the Triumph Hurdle, but she had a small setback and we decided to put the hurdling career on hold. She has qualified for the Festival Bumper and done nothing wrong at home. She will be a very interesting runner and it would quite an unusual way of preparing for the Cheltenham bumper. She is very useful or I wouldn’t even contemplate this target.