Rain key for Travino as Mullins focuses on Cheltenham bid
The Co Kilkenny handler has the seven-year-old entered in both the Royal & SunAlliance Novices’ Hurdle and the Brit Insurance Novices’ Hurdle at the meeting, but underfoot conditions will dictate his running plans.
“We are thinking about going across, but only if there is plenty of rain,” said Mullins.
“We need to see how much rain arives so I will leave him in both races for the moment before I make a decision. If it does not rain enough then we will wait for Aintree.
“He is well though, and does his final bit of work tomorrow. We took him to Gowran last week for a gallop and he worked lovely, I was very happy with him.
“He is really a chaser for the future but I would love to travel him over to England to see how he handles it.”
Meanwhile, John Carr is hoping his Anglo Irish Bank Supreme Novices’ Hurdle hopeful Sublimity makes the cut after working well after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday.
A Listed winner on the level for Sir Michael Stoute, the six-year-old won on his debut over hurdles before disappointing in a Grade Two at Punchestown last time.
“He galloped after racing at Leopardstown on Sunday and he went very well,” said Carr.
“There was about a dozen or so in his gallop and he won it well. I’m not sure what else was in there with him but Victram came second and he runs in the Imperial Cup on Saturday so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.
“Victram disappointed in the Pierse Hurdle last time but before that he looked pretty useful.
“Our horse disappointed as well last time but he scoped badly after the race and we knew it wasn’t his true running. We were going to scope him on Sunday after the gallop but he went so well there was no point. He is obviously in very good form.
“He had to work that well though to make our mind up for us. If he hadn’t sparkled we wouldn’t have bothered taking him over.
“All we hope now is that we don’t get balloted out and that we get to run him.”
lNavan will inspect the track today before deciding whether Saturday’s chases can go ahead.
However, the hurdle and bumper tracks are currently fit for racing, with the going described as heavy.
Meanwhile, Fairyhouse will stage an extra meeting on Wednesday, April 19 after last Saturday’s meeting was cancelled due to frost and snow.
