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Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

Cheltenham Festival 2023 tips: Four Willie Mullins horses to follow

Willie Mullins is the dominant force in national hunt racing and will send over another formidable battalion of horses to this year's Cheltenham Festival.

After bagging ten winners last year, it isn't inconceivable that Mullins could beat that tally this time.

In the opening two races alone, he runs the likely favourite Facile Vega in the Supreme Novices Hurdle before the much-fancied El Fabiolo contests the Arkle.

But, along with two horses well found in the markets, we have picked out some of Mullins' lesser-known horses that could run big races at the Cotswolds:

Blood Destiny - Triumph Hurdle - 15/8

Blood Destiny, ridden by Paul Townend, jumps the final flight before winning The Race Displays Hurdle at Fairyhouse (© Peter Mooney)

Lossiemouth has dominated the Triumph Hurdle market for most of the season.

The Rich Ricci-owned mare won a Grade 3 and a Grade 2 in great style and was the hot favourite for the Spring Juvenile (Grade 1) at the Dublin Racing Festival.

But trouble in running saw the mare run out an unlucky loser, for many people, to her stablemate Gala Marceau, with another Mullins runner, Tekao, back in third.

That Mullins filled the 1-2-3 in this race isn't enough, though, as he may have the best juvenile hurdler of them all in Blood Destiny.

By a national hunt sire in No Risk At All, this four-year-old has gone under the radar somewhat but is talked about in glowing terms by those inside the stable.

A winner of his two hurdles races by five lengths and 18 lengths, respectively, Blood Destiny's form has been franked all season, and he could be the choice of Paul Townend for the big day.

Fact To File - Champion Bumper - 7/1

Patrick Mullins will have the choice of a host of Willie Mullins horses set to run in the Champion Bumper (©INPHO/Peter Mooney)

This year's Champion Bumper looks wide open, and the favourite at the off is likely to depend on the choice of Patrick Mullins.

Closutton, as always, will have an enviable army of bumper horses to send over to the Cotswolds.

It's For Me has been earmarked as potentially the best of them by the bookmakers after winning on the bridle at Navan.

But, arguably, the Mullins bumper horse with the most solid form is Fact To File.

The six-year-old is bred to appreciate staying trips and looked to be beaten by a speedier type in A Dream To Share at Leopardstown last time out.

Sure to appreciate the stiff uphill finish at Cheltenham, Fact To File makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Shanbally Kid - Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle - 12/1

Perhaps best down at the moment for being Gigginstown House Stud's first runner for Willie Mullins since their reunion, Shanbally Kid could be a lively outsider for the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle.

He was a modest fourth on his debut over hurdles at Limerick but improved markedly when he stepped up in trip at Navan next time out.

In behind him that day was Monty's Star, who has since gone on to win a warm Grade 3 at Clonmel.

This is a wide-open renewal, and in a race in which you need a dire stayer, Shanbally Kid ticks many boxes.

Galopin Des Champs - Gold Cup - 15/8

One of the most memorable moments from last year's Festival was the sight of Galopin Des Champis falling at the last in the Turners Novices' Chase with the race at his mercy.

That has been the only blip, though, since the gelding went over the fences.

Once Mullins earmarked the Gold Cup as his target this season, the big question mark was the horse's stamina.

But, while he was pretty headstrong during his novice chase campaign, Galopin Des Champs has learned to relax in his races this term.

This was seen to impressive effect at the Dublin Racing Festival when Paul Townend woke him up to power clear for a decisive victory over three miles.

Willie Mullins doesn't think stamina will be an issue in the Gold Cup, and with ability not a problem, he looks like the one to beat in the week's biggest race.

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