The trainer is closing in on 100 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and his star two-mile chaser can get him closer by claiming the Grade One feature at Prestbury Park.
The seven-year-old was a hugely impressive winner of the Arkle Chase over course and distance at last year's Festival, beating his chief rival Jonbon with ease. He is unbeaten in all six of his chase starts and has only lost once in his career over obstacles - to Jonbon in the Top Novices' Hurdle at the 2022 Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse.
This year he has won both starts, scoring comfortably in the Grade Two Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase at Cork in December before beating stable-mate Dinoblue by eight-and-ahalf lengths in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. And although he didn't jump with his usual fluency throughout, he will be hard to beat back at Cheltenham.
Mullins can also land another Grade One victory with BALLYBURN a hot odds-on favourite to win the Gallagher Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Baring Bingham Novices' Hurdle) (GBB Race) (1.30pm).
This story is from the March 13, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
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This story is from the March 13, 2024 edition of Manchester Evening News.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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