Weekend racing tips: Great opportunity for Hors Piste to make a winning debut

It should be another bumper day for Willie Mullins as, in the Velvet Cap Whiskey Maiden Hurdle, Hors Piste has been found a great opportunity to make a winning debut

It should be another bumper day for Willie Mullins as, in the Velvet Cap Whiskey Maiden Hurdle, Hors Piste has been found a great opportunity to make a winning debut. Picture: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

For four years now, the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore has been the starting point of the season for Al Boum Photo, and for the fourth consecutive year he can make a winning start to his campaign. In March, a third Cheltenham Gold Cup proved beyond Willie Mullins’ horse, but he didn’t run too badly to finish third behind Minella Indo and A Plus Tard. He also finished off the season with a cracking effort behind Clan Des Obeaux in the Punchestown Gold Cup and today’s race once again provides the perfect opportunity to set off on the right foot. Stablemate Acapella Bourgeois followed him home in the last two runnings of today’s race, but another stablemate, Burrows Saint, can take over that mantle today.

It should be another bumper day for Mullins as, in the Velvet Cap Whiskey Maiden Hurdle, Hors Piste has been found a great opportunity to make a winning debut for the stable. On the second of her two runs over hurdles in France, the mare finished runner-up to Roberta Has and that form has worked out well.