Killultagh Vic may prove best of Mullins trio in Bumper
The nap vote falls on Killultagh Vic in the Weatherbys’ Champion Bumper, despite the fact you can make a case for him being the number three of Willie Mullins’ candidates.
But, perhaps, too much shouldn’t be read into the riding arrangements. Patrick Mullins had the choice and has gone with Black Hercules.
Patrick, however, has an emotional attachment to this horse, having bought him originally with his cousin, Emmet.
Ruby has gone with Shaneshill, who could very well be the classiest of the trio. But Killultagh Vic made a big impression on me when slamming Golantilla by 16 lengths at Naas and gets the vote.
Feature event is the BetVictor Queen Mother Champion Chase and the absence of the splendid Sprinter Sacre is most disappointing.
Gary Moore’s rapidly improving Sire de Grugy is now clearly the one to beat, he was brilliant last time at Ascot, and is on a four-timer.
But he has never produced his best at Cheltenham and it might pay to go with Captain Conan as an alternative.
It will certainly be ironic should Captain Conan win, considering he is a stable companion of Sprinter Sacre.
He has won at the track before and appeared not to get two and a half miles here a year ago when flatting to deceive before taking fifth behind Benefficient in the Ryanair Chase.
We will finally find out just how good Willie Mullins’ Faugheen is in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle.
He has been given real kid-glove treatment by Mullins since going over flights and has won ordinary races in the proverbial canter.
What is a fact, however, is that he looked an absolute star in the making at last year's Punchestown festival, running away with a bumper, and we have to be with him, until knowing better.
