Mullins leads bumper field

Willie Mullins is responsible for 13 entries as he seeks to land the Weatherbys Champion Bumper for an incredible seventh time at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Co Carlow trainer’s team makes up half of the Irish entry in a race that has attracted a total of 51 possibles.

Mullins’ contenders include Sicilian Secret, an easy winner of his only start at Leopardstown, dual scorer Quinola Des Obeaux, Quel Esprit and dual Gowran winner Cadspeed.

Long-time ante-post fancy Dunguib represents Philip Fenton while among others prominent in the betting are the Paul Nolan-trained Shinrock Paddy, Dermot Weld’s Rite Of Passage and Thomond O’Mara’s Tornado Shay.

There have only been three British-trained winners in the race’s 16 runnings.

One trainer hoping to buck that trend is Gary Moore, responsible for Vino Griego, who was an impressive six-length scorer at Ascot recently.

“I was delighted with his victory at Ascot and he seems to have come out of the race in good form,” said Moore.

“He won on heavy ground last time out but we wouldn’t mind better ground – as long as it’s not too fast.

“I know English trainers have got a poor record in the race but we’ve got to win it sometime and I think we are going into the race with a fighting chance.”

Others among the home contingent are Paul Nicholls’ Red Harbour, Victor Dartnall’s Henry King, Alan King’s Mail de Bievre and Alan Swinbank’s Vivona Hill.