Ground worry for Asian Maze
The race is shaping up into one of the most hotly-contested heats of the season with last year’s first two, Brave Inca and Macs Joy, dual champion hurdler Hardy Eustace, and new kids on the block Hide The Evidence and Lounaos set to take part.
But Mullins is concerned about letting the eight-year-old mare take her chance on testing ground after a disappointing showing in the Hatton’s Grace.
“I’m going to walk the track and see what it is like. If the ground is right enough she will probably run and if it’s not she won’t.
“She’s in good form. It is drying up a touch, but I’m not going to run her on heavy in the early part of the season again.
“If it was April I might chance her, but I would rather wait until she was super fit.
“It seems to be a great race with Brave Inca, Hardy Eustace, Macs Joy and our horse, but it is not our main Champion Hurdle. We are leading to one race at the moment.”
Mullins says Pierse Hurdle third New Field is a strong possibility for the Totesport Trophy at Newbury on February 10.
A winner of two novice chases last season, he has reverted to hurdles this term and was just touched off in one of the most competitive races of the season under Tony McCoy.
He is currently out of the handicap in the Newbury showpiece, but Mullins is hoping a few of those above him are withdrawn so he is able to take his chance.
“It’s looking more likely that he will run, as long as he gets in. If the weights go up it is looking more likely,” said Mullins.
“We think he has a big handicap in him and we would like to have a stab at a big prize rather than a small one while he is in such good form.”
Mullins’ recent Naas novice chase winner Chelsea Harbour could find himself taking on more experienced rivals in the Powers Whisky Irish Grand National at the end of the season.
The seven-year-old won a Grade Two event on his first try at three miles over fences, putting a useful field to the sword by five and a half lengths.
“It was a bit of a surprise that he won so well. If he had just won then fair enough, but the way he won was a bit of a surprise,” said Mullins
“He’s come out his race extremely well and I suppose he will be heading for Aintree or even Cheltenham.
“He’s an out and out stayer, but he’s gone up 26lb for his last two wins so that rules out handicaps unless he ran in one at Cheltenham or Aintree, but he has an entry in the SunAlliance as well. He needs a trip, though.
“I think he’ll go on any ground, he’s was just touched off on good to firm at Punchestown last year, but it was very heavy at Naas the other day.
“He is just about the right age for a chaser now and the first time he got three miles he showed us how good he was.
“I hope he is an Irish National horse and we might even look at it this year as he will be at the right end of the handicap, he’s only going to go up the ratings in time.”
