RACING: Willie Mullins may give the hugely exciting Boston Bob a little more time before letting him embark on a chasing career. The seven-year-old showed top-class form over timber last season but was beaten by the ill-fated Brindisi Breeze on his final start in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
He holds entries in a beginners chase at Gowran Park on Saturday and a race Navan on Sunday, but Mullins feels the Grade One winner might benefit from a another week before making his reappearance.
“Ruby (Walsh) rode a bit of work on him yesterday and was very pleased with him. He’s entered at the weekend but I might just take another week with him,” the Co Carlow trainer told At The Races. “I’m looking forward to him as a novice chaser.”
Mullins is in no hurry to decide on the participation of Bishopsfurze and Sweet My Lord in Navan’s Ladbrokes Troytown Handicap Chase.
“I’ve put the two in that race. Bishopsfurze is the one but I might be able to find an easier contest for him than the Troytown,” he said. “It’s a nice prize but for the first race back I might find an easier contest somewhere.”
Dual Grade One bumper winner Champagne Fever will now try to win at the top level over jumps following his maiden hurdle success last weekend. The Cheltenham and Punchestown Festival hero made a triumphant debut over obstacles at Cork on Sunday.
Mullins will now choose between the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse on December 2nd and the Navan Novice Hurdle two weeks later for his talented grey. “He’s come out of his race well. He’s entered in the Royal Bond and the hurdle at Navan,” Mullins told At The Races.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)