Willie Mullins goes for more Grade One glory at Naas on Sunday - check out his thoughts on his team for the card.
Naas, Sunday January 2
DOLCITA – 12.30 Naas
Dolcita comes here with a run under her belt but even though there’s only five runners it looks a hot little race. I think the extra couple of furlongs will suit her down to the ground.
BLUE LORD – 1.00 Naas
Heavy ground should suit him very well and his jumping method was quite good the first day. I’m hoping a repeat of that will be good enough here.
WHATDEAWANT – 2.10 Naas
Whatdeawant made hard work of winning at Navan last time however I think he’s way better than that. The mistake at the second last cost him his position and with that run under his belt he’s entitled to improve. He could be value for money in a competition like this.
BRONN – 2.45 Naas
Bronn’s form got a boost the other day from Howyabud, so going on that line of form this fellow must have a big chance.
It’s been a great Christmas period for us and the winners continued on the final day at Leopardstown.
Sharjah was very workmanlike winning the Matheson Hurdle for the fourth time, but perhaps missing the last hurdle out was a big disadvantage for him as he obviously likes jumping. But he got the job done so we were very pleased for owner, rider and horse.
Echoes In Rain got things to suit her a lot better but she probably has to improve. She’s learning and maybe she’s one to stick to the mares’ division now.
Saint Roi ran an absolute cracker. He was very free but jumped well and for a horse having his first run back I reckon there’s lots of improvement to come, which puts him in there with the top hurdlers in Ireland.
I was particularly pleased with The Nice Guy winning the bumper on the last day which gave Patrick a full hand of bumpers for Leopardstown at Christmas.
He surprised me by winning a Leopardstown bumper and it shows that he’s improving. There’s a good chance he might go hurdling now for the rest of the season with a view to going chasing in the next campaign.
I was very happy with En Beton on Friday. For a horse having his first run over fences he looked like a handicapper going around Punchestown. The style of win suggests he could be a candidate for the National Hunt Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.
Happy new year to everyone.
