RACING: Willie Mullins will attempt to plunder another big prize in Britain after Florida Pearl's Christmas victory at Kempton when he sends Killultagh Storm for the £60,000 Victor Chandler Chase at Ascot on Saturday.
Arthur Moore's Jeffell was the last Irish-trained horse to land the Grade Two contest back in 1998.
And the weights for this year's renewal are set to go up by at least 15lb which would put the Mullins runner on 10st 5lb.
"That should suit us and we'd prefer goodish ground for him," remarked Mullins. "Ruby Walsh will probably ride. I think that's the plan."
Killultagh Storm was a shade unlucky when a length and a half third to the smart Knife Edge at Naas in November before coming home last of seven finishers behind the same horse at Leopardstown on December 27th.
But there may have been good reason for that below-par showing, as Mullins explained: "I think he got a bump at the first fence and it just unsettled him completely. He just never took part after the first fence - didn't go at all." Killultagh Storm is a 20 to 1 chance with the sponsors for the Victor Chandler Chase.
Punter concern over the manner of Istabraq's reappearance victory at Leopardstown has led to William Hill easing the three-times Smurfit Champion Hurdle winner in their betting on this year's renewal. Aidan O'Brien's 10-year-old is now a 13 to 8 chance (from 6 to 4) for a historic fourth victory at Cheltenham.
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