Classy Quel Esprit back in the hunt

Quel Esprit, Willie Mullins’ 2012 Irish Hennessy winner, will run in a hunter chase at Leopardstown on February 9 but the grey is not eligible for the CGA Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

The 10-year-old won a point-to-point at Ballinaboola on Sunday in the hands of Katie Walsh running in the colours of Mullins’ wife, Jackie.

Not seen since pulling up in the Grand National, he won by a distance but is unable to run at Cheltenham in March as he won a race worth more than £16,000 after June 2, 2011.