Maze maybe busy at Cheltenham
The County Kilkenny trainer believes the mare is back to the kind of form she showed when winning the Aintree Hurdle and the Stayers’ Hurdle at Punchestown last Spring.
“She’s in very good form. We will keep her in the World Hurdle at least until she runs in the Champion on Tuesday and she could run in both,” said Mullins.
“I’m very happy with her. The ground will be grand and I think she’ll handle anything at this stage.
“She seems to be right back to her best form, so we’re just hoping she can produce it on the racecourse again.”
Asian Maze, who fell at the fourth flight in last year’s Champion Hurdle, has yet to show her best so far this season after having a hard race when second to Iktitaf in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown in November.
“She probably had too hard a race in the Morgiana. It gave her a bit of a fright in her first race of the season,” Mullins explained.
“It knocked her back there to chase Newmill in the early stages. She lost her confidence a bit. We had to get her over that and we think we have.
“At the moment Robbie Power will ride her if Paul Carberry doesn’t become available.”
Asian Maze was cut to 16-1 from 20s for the Champion Hurdle with totesport, who make her a 9-1 chance for next Thursday’s World Hurdle.
Meanwhile Spot Thedifference “looks a million dollars” ahead of his eighth appearance over the cross-country track at Cheltenham on Tuesday, according to trainer Enda Bolger.
The evergreen 14 year old has to defy his age, top weight of 11st 12lb and likely testing conditions in the Sporting Index Handicap Chase. He took the three mile seven furlong contest in 2005, but suffered his only defeat in seven runs over that special course in this race 12 months ago.
“He looks a million dollars. He’s in great nick and I’m thrilled with him,” said Bolger.
“They are both in good form and I’m hoping for the best. I can’t wait for it.
“JT McNamara is looking forward to riding Spot Thedifference and Nina Carberry rides Heads On the Ground.”
The 27 horses to stand their ground at the confirmation stage also include last year’s Irish-trained winner, Philip Rothwell’s Native Jack.
