Small steps for Make Your Mark
The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old bolted up on his debut under Rules in a Punchestown bumper in November, and was equally impressive over hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas.
Owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the Beneficial gelding is prominent in ante-post lists for the staying novice hurdles at Cheltenham in March.
Gigginstown racing manager Eddie O’Leary said: “I think he’ll probably go for a winners’ race somewhere next and that will tell us more about him.
“He looked smart at Christmas all right, but we’d rather take a small step than a big one at this stage.”
O’Leary also warned Gigginstown are unlikely to have any runners in the Champion Bumper at the Festival for the foreseeable future.
The leading owners currently have Don Cossack and recent Naas winner Un Atout towards the head of the market, but have a general policy of not having runners in a race which they consider hard on young horses.
“I doubt he’ll (Un Atout) will be going to Cheltenham anyway,” said O’Leary.
“We have the first two in the betting for the Champion Bumper with Un Atout and Don Cossack but unless something seriously changes, I don’t think either of them will be going.
“It’s just a race we don’t particularly like as we think it can ruin a good young horse.”
