Un De Sceaux may take on Fly at Punchestown
The remarkable 10-year-old, who boasts a record 19 Grade One victories, is likely to face a field including Jezki, who had him back in fourth place when lifting the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.
“Hurricane Fly will run in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle and he is in good shape,” said Mullins.
“I’m not certain where we will go next with Un De Sceaux – if he goes to Punchestown, he will run in the Champion Hurdle as well.”
Another superstar aiming for a Punchestown five-timer is Quevega, in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle on May 1 after she lifted the David Nicholson Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham for the sixth year running.
“Although Quevega is in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Mares Champion Hurdle on the Festival’s final day, she normally goes for the stayers’ race, the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, and we would love to win it again with her for a fifth consecutive time this year,” said Mullins.
The Co Carlow trainer’s powerful team at the five-day feast includes a possible three-pronged attack with On His Own, Boston Bob and Prince De Beauchene, on the Bibby Financial Services Ireland Punchestown Gold Cup on April 30, a race he won last year with Sir Des Champs and in 2002 with Florida Pearl.
The mare Annie Power, whose only defeat came when second in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at Cheltenham, has a number of different entries and Mullins is biding his time before deciding her Punchestown target.
“Annie Power is entered in the Racing Post Champion Hurdle, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Champion Hurdle and the Ladbroke World Series Hurdle and we will have a look at the entries closer to the time. She came out of Cheltenham well and is in good form again going into Punchestown,” he said.
Glens Melody, runner-up to Quevega at Cheltenham, is to bid to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Champion Hurdle on May 3 while Champagne Fever, second in the Arkle Trophy is to step up in trip for the Growise Champion Novice Chase on April 29.
Mullins could also dominate the novice events with Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner Vautour heading for Herald Champion Novice Hurdle on April 29, Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle victor Faugheen going for the Tattersalls Ireland Champion Novice Hurdle on May 2 and Don Poli, winner of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, targeting the Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle on April 30.
Meanwhile, Nicky Henderson is ready to send 2013 Cheltenham winner Bobs Worth on his summer holidays and let Grand National faller Long Run, the 2011 Gold Cup hero, try to go one better than last year in the Punchestown Gold Cup .
Henderson said: “Bobs Worth seems fine, but I am thinking of leaving him alone now and starting again next season.
“Long Run didn’t go to Cheltenham and only jumped a few fences at Aintree. It was very frustrating, but he is fine.”
The nine-year-old and Sam Waley-Cohen finished second to Sir Des Champs in the Punchestown feature last year.
Their stablemate Beat That, the impressive winner of the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, is set to go for the 3m Irish Daily Mirror Novice Hurdle.
Henderson added: “It’s very much a possibility as that was only his third run over hurdles and first since November — he is a fresh horse and didn’t have a hard race in that he went there on the bridle, although any Grade 1 is not an easy race.”
