Mullins plots path for star novices

Stablemates Hurricane Fly and Cousin Vinny could clash for the second time in a month at Leopardstown on Saturday.

Just two and a half lengths separated the pair when they finished first and second respectively in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse in November.

Willie Mullins is now considering running both in the paddypower.com Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Saturday.

“There is every possibility that Cousin Vinny will run and it wouldn’t be a problem to me if both he and Hurricane Fly ran in the same race,” said the County Carlow trainer.

“I have been pleased with how both have progressed since Fairyhouse.”

Cousin Vinny, the first horse to complete the Cheltenham-Punchestown bumper double last season, was making his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse. He is 9-2 favourite with Paddy Power for the Supreme Novices’ at Cheltenham in March.

“Cousin Vinny’s hurdling debut was very pleasing and he obviously has loads of speed as you need that to win three bumpers,” Mullins went on.

“He’s won on good ground and soft ground, but his best form is on good ground. My form people tell me that his best performance came at Punchestown on good ground.”

Mullins believes Hurricane Fly’s experience put in him good stead at Fairyhouse.

“I think that Hurricane Fly did it well at Fairyhouse and he had a lot of experience from his runs in the spring,” he continued.

“He had a little advantage over the other horses who were running in a different grade, while he had been to a Grade One race before and that was a big advantage.

“He stepped back to two miles last time, but two and a half miles isn’t a problem either as he was second in a Grade One and won a Grade Three over that trip.”

Paddy Power make Hurricane Fly a 10-1 chance for both the Supreme and Ballymore Properties Hurdle.

Others among 15 entries for the Future Champions Novice Hurdle include Colm Murphy’s Zaarito and the Noel Meade trio of Donnas Palm, Fisher Bridge and Go Native.