Mullins prepared to bide his time

RACING NEWS:WILLIE MULLINS is still aiming to run many of his stable stars at Leopardstown over Christmas but insists the likes of Hurricane Fly and Mikael D'Haguenet won't be rushed back into action too soon.

A low-grade virus leading to lung infections have disrupted plans at the Mullins yard but the champion trainer is optimistic the worst is over at his Co Carlow stables.

“It is a concern coming into Christmas but I think we are over the worst of it. We’ve changed the antibiotic being used and that seems to be helping,” Mullins said yesterday.

“But my whole aim is not to panic and rush these horses into running at Christmas. It would be disappointing to miss some good races, but I won’t rush them and maybe set them back,” he added.

Hurricane Fly is currently still a possible starter in the December Festival Hurdle on the final day of the Leopardstown festival while Cooldine is set to bypass the King George VI Chase at Kempton on St Stephen’s Day in favour of waiting for the Lexus Chase.

However, Mullins said he has no problem bypassing the holiday period entirely with the brilliant Mikael D’Haguenet whose chasing debut could now be postponed until the new year.

A splint problem delayed Mikael D’Haguenet’s seasonal debut but he remains one of the market leaders for the novice events at the Cheltenham festival.

“I’m going to start him in a Beginners Chase. We will be creeping with him at first,” Mullins reported. “He is back on the gallops and did a nice little piece this morning so we’ll see how he comes out of that. I’m aiming for Christmas but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he missed it and we had to wait a bit.”

He added: “Hurricane Fly is not back completely right yet but we are aiming for Christmas and it looks like the Lexus for Cooldine. It might suit his connections to stay at home.”

Mullins could be doubly represented in Sunday week’s Grade One features at Leopardstown with both Golden Silver and Scotsirish among the 10 entries left in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase and Fionnegas and Enterprise Park featuring in the 11 left in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle.

Last year’s winner Big Zeb is not a certain starter in the Dial-A-Bet but Forpadydeplasterer remains a possible while both Some Present and Sweeps Hill will be hoping to take advantage of Dunguib’s absence to pick up top-flight honours in the big novice event.

The Coral Welsh National at Chepstow on Sunday week may yet end up being targeted by Ireland’s champion trainer but a lot will depend on the participation of the Aintree Grand National winner Mon Mome who currently tops the weights for the marathon slog.

Willie Mullins can pick from a strong team of stayers that includes the Troytown winner Beroni as well as the Cork National scorer Our Monty and the JP McManus owned Arbor Supreme.