Fly aims for Grade One repeat

CHAMPION TRAINER Willie Mullins is aiming Hurricane Fly at a quick Grade One double over Christmas but is keeping his options open over last season's bumper champion Cousin Vinny.

Along with Mikael D'Haguenet, the pair make up an ultra-strong team of novice hurdlers in the Mullins yard and they are likely to both appear during the holiday period.

The Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle is likely to be Hurricane Fly's next target after his defeat of Donnas Palm in the Grade One Royal Bond at Leopardstown last month.

Cousin Vinny was third in that race on his jumping debut and also holds a Future Champions entry.

However, Mullins said last night: "Cousin Vinny has quite a few options and it will be the weekend before I make any firm plans. He'll be entered in a few races and could go down the maiden route. Hurricane Fly has a route ahead of him and will probably run in the Grade One at Leopardstown."

Options are also open for Mullins' promising novice chaser Cooldine who impressed on his fencing debut at Thurles under Paul Townend. "There is the two-mile race (Durkan New Homes NoviceChase) or the three-mile race (Knight Frank Chase) at Leopardstown and then there is the novice race at Limerick. We will see closer to the time," Mullins said.