Mullins trio left high and dry

Willie Mullins feels the drying ground will not unduly worry his three runners in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper tomorrow.

The Irish champion trainer has saddled six scorers of the Grade One event and this year saddles Bishopsfurze, Day Of A Lifetime and Up Ou That, all of whom defend unbeaten records.

“I think the drying ground will suit them all and it’s difficult to pick between them at this stage,” said Mullins.

“They’ve all done their job well so far and we don’t yet know how much they’ve improved.

“Patrick (Mullins) rides Day Of A Lifetime, David Casey rides Up Ou That and Paul Townend will ride Bishopsfurze.

“I think the drying ground will particularly suit Up Ou That and Bishopsfurze, but they all deserve to have a go.”

Edward O’Grady’s Shot From The Hip was hugely impressive on his latest appearance at Leopardstown.

O’Grady said: “He was pretty good at Leopardstown and it was nice to see the form franked at Limerick at the weekend with the third (Acey) and fourth (Old Charm) finishing first and third.

“We we fortunate that the race was postponed a week due to frost as we had had a hold-up with him and I would like to think he has improved a good bit since Leopardstown.

“He has travelled over well and I hope he has got a good chance.

“He has what it takes but whether he is good enough is a different matter.”

Davy Russell is looking forward to getting the leg-up on Tavern Times, who has been off the track since making a winning debut at Fairyhouse in October.

“He is a lovely horse who has done nothing wrong,” said the jockey.

“We would have loved to run him at Naas but that was called off and Leopardstown was going to come too close, so that (lack of a recent run) is a worry.

“I don’t think they are an outstanding bumper crop – there is nothing jumping up saying he is a horse for next year.

“This race has always been the plan and we have always seen him as a Cheltenham Bumper horse but he did get very sick, although he is back to himself now.”