Un De Sceaux Auteuil-bound
Willie Mullins’ exciting six-year-old stretched his unbeaten record to eight when holding on from home-trained runner Gemix in the Prix Hypothese in Paris at the end of March, his first attempt at an extended two miles and three furlongs.
Connections considered letting him lock horns with esteemed stable companion Hurricane Fly at Punchestown tomorrow week, but he will instead head back to France to tackle the same course and distance in this weekend’s Prix Leon Rambaud.
In the absence of sidelined stable jockey Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty did the steering last time, but Walsh is set to be back in the saddle on Saturday, with Gemix again likely to be Un De Sceaux’s most serious opponent.
Mullins said: “That’s the plan (to run at Auteuil). It’s the same trip as last time and I think Ruby is going to ride him. The horse is going over there in good order.”
Ireland’s champion trainer remains in no rush to decide on the likely Punchestown target of brilliant mare Annie Power.
The six-year-old suffered her first defeat in 11 starts when finding More Of That too strong in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham on her first attempt at three miles.
She is entered in the Ladbrokes World Series Hurdle, the Racing Post Champion Hurdle and the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Mares Champion Hurdle at next week’s showpiece meeting.
Mullins said: “She ran into a cracker (in More Of That), I’d say. People probably don’t appreciate how good he is.
“She’s in Champion Hurdle, she’s in the stayers’ hurdle and she’s in the mares’ hurdle. We won’t make any decision until we have to.”
While the champion trainer is keeping his cards close to his chest, he did hint the World Series Hurdle, a race in which incredible stable companion Quevega looks set to bid for a remarkable fifth consecutive victory, was Annie Power’s least likely option of the three.
Mullins said: “Her method of racing probably suggests a shorter trip than three might be better.”
Asked whether she could clash with Quevega, he said: “I wouldn’t think it’s necessary, so we’ll probably keep them apart.”
