Training Day
The Irish champion trainer has saddled six winners of the Grade One event and this year saddles Bishopsfurze, Day Of A Lifetime and Up Ou That, all of whom defend unbeaten records.
“I think the drying ground will suit them all and it’s difficult to pick between them at this stage,” said Mullins.
“They’ve all done their job well so far and we don’t yet know how much they’ve improved.
“Patrick (Mullins) rides Day Of A Lifetime, David Casey rides Up Ou That and Paul Townend will ride Bishopsfurze.
“I think the drying ground will particularly suit Up Ou That and Bishopsfurze, but they all deserve to have a go.”
Davy Russell is looking forward to getting the leg-up on Tavern Times, who has been off the track since making a winning debut at Fairyhouse in October.
“He is a lovely horse who has done nothing wrong,” said the jockey.
“We would have loved to run him at Naas but that was called off and Leopardstown was going to come too close, so that (lack of a recent run) is a worry.
“I don’t think they are an outstanding bumper crop — there is nothing jumping up saying he is a horse for next year.
“This race has always been the plan and we have always seen him as a Cheltenham Bumper horse but he did get very sick, although he is back to himself now.”
Dermot Weld seemingly holds the key to the race with Hidden Universe and Elegant Concorde both prominent in the betting.
The trainer said: “Four-year-olds don’t have a good record in the race but Hidden Universe is a decent four-year-old and he’s a very smart horse, so is Elegant Concorde.
“Elegant Concorde would definitely appreciate good ground. He’s a very good actioned horse and he does not handle soft very well, hence the reason I’ve just run him at Leopardstown at Christmas when it was nice ground and he’s a decent horse.
“Robbie McNamara rides Elegant Concorde and Pat Smullen rides Hidden Universe.
“Hidden Universe may not have beaten very much in his four-year-old bumper but he’s a horse that bends his knee, he’s effective on yielding to soft ground and he appears to stay well.”
Jimmy Lambe’s Drumbaloo is a fascinating contender having won each of his three starts under rules and the County Tyrone handler is delighted with how he has settled in since arriving at Cheltenham.
“He arrived on Sunday and seems in very good order,” said Lambe. “Robbie McNamara gave him a stretch on Tuesday and everything seems to be going to plan.
“We’re happy to be part of the race and happy to have the calibre of horse we have, but we don’t underestimate the task in hand.
“It’s a very good bumper but the drying ground is not an issue for us and he’s the form horse of the race, so hopefully he’ll run a big race.”
Colin Tizzard’s Cue Card may be an outsider but his trainer believes he deserves his chance.
“He was impressive first time out at Fontwell and we said after that we’d bring him to Cheltenham,” said Tizzard. “It’s a good race but this horse has plenty of pace and we thought we’d have a go.”
