English/Ire
Mullins looking forward to Mighty Park
Willie Mullins described Mighty Park’s stable debut success as ‘Faugheen-like’ as he runs the rule over some of his leading novice hurdlers for the Cheltenham Festival.
As so often is the case, Mullins looks set to enter the Cheltenham Festival with a whole host of live chances in the novice hurdle division, although it seems none are exciting Ireland's leading handler as much as Mighty Park.
Owned by JP McManus, Mighty Park put up a power packed performance to make a 38-length winning hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in January and as a result, he's towards the fore in the markets for both the Supreme and Turners Novices' Hurdles at Cheltenham next month.
Mullins said: "When Mark Walsh got off him after he won at Fairyhousse, he said he looked at the big screen at the second last and couldn't believe how far he was in front, having gone what he thought was a normal slow pace.
"Mark said his cruising speed must be huge and he's a fantastic jumper. I think he must be right in the mix for the Supreme.
"He has to be a hell of a horse to do what he did and has huge natural ability. Winning by 38 lengths like he did the other day puts you into Faugheen-type territory.
"From day one I thought he was good enough to win a Champion Bumper with what he was showing me at home."
Third behind Talk The Talk and Ballyfad in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival, King Rasko Grey also has either the Supreme and Turners on his agenda, while Doctor Steinberg, who strode to victory at the same meeting, remains firmly in the mix for either the Albertt Bartlett or Turners.
Mullins said of the pair: "King Rasko Grey was third to what I think are the two best novice hurdlers in Ireland at the Dublin Racing Festival (Talk The Talk and Ballyfad).
"I think he will come on for it and is right in the mix. I think he has enough speed for the Supreme, but with his run the other day you might be thinking Turners.
"I'm watching Doctor Steinberg the other day and I'm looking at how he pulled and dragged his jockey through the race, and I don't think he could do that for three miles round Cheltenham. You'd have a faster pace in the Turners, but I'll leave it up to Paul Townend.
"Maybe he'll find some way of riding him differently. He rode him from the front the other day and you could ride him differently in the Albert Bartlett, cover him up and get him to settle.
"If he told me he could get him to settle, then we'd probably run him in the Albert Bartlett. That'll be crucial - how he wants to ride him."
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