Mullins to delay naming Supreme festival target

Racing News round-upA final decision on the Hennessy Gold Cup winner Rule Supreme's Cheltenham target is not likely to be made until the very eve of the festival in five weeks.

The Willie Mullins-trained star is second favourite to Baracouda for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, but he propelled himself into the Gold Cup picture with his Leopardstown success last weekend.

Immediately afterwards Mullins said he would discuss the question with Rule Supreme's owner, but yesterday the trainer insisted he would leave the call until as late as possible.

"His owner, John Fallon, and myself sat down and chatted this week but Cheltenham wasn't mentioned once. I would like to leave it as long as possible because I don't think there is anything to gain by nominating a race now," said Mullins.

"I've found in the past that you only make trouble for yourself if you make a decision and then for whatever reason you have to change your mind later," he added. "That's especially the case with these high profile horses.

"I don't want to be in a situation where maybe punters and the media are giving out about being given a bum steer. Punters are going to get as good a price about the horse on the day as they are now, maybe even better."

Rule Supreme, winner last season of the SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham and the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil, is as low as 5 to 1 second favourite for the Hurdle, and is a general 12 to 1 shot for steeplechasing's blue riband.

One issue that won't concern his team will be the ground at Cheltenham next month.

"David (Casey) says he jumps better out of better ground, but the going is not a concern with him. He won at the Punchestown festival on fast ground and has also won on very soft. That's not an issue. He has come out of the Hennessy very well and seems in great form," Mullins said.

The Carlow trainer also reported that Missed That, who races in the Florida Pearl colours of Violet O'Leary, is on track to tackle the Festival Bumper.

Missed That could end up being ridden by Ruby Walsh, but one horse the season's leading rider will definitely be on is Scarthy Lad in Sunday's Grade Two Flyingbolt Chase at Navan.

Thomas O'Leary's horse takes on Ulaan Baatar again after flopping in the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown. Also in the field is likely to be the Noel Meade-trained Watson Lake.

However, O'Leary's other star novice, Newmill, will miss out on the festival for the second year running and will instead be aimed at the Power Gold Cup at Fairyhouse, before also taking in the Punchestown festival.

"He just hasn't been himself recently," O'Leary said yesterday. "He only fell in when he won at Leopardstown last month, so we've decided to skip Cheltenham and instead we'll run on Sunday week at Naas. Then we'll give him a short rest before Fairyhouse."

Tomorrow's Gowran Park feature will be Hardy Eustace's attempt at going one better than last year in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle.

The current champion hurdler was just beaten by Georges Girl in the race last season, but his trainer, Dessie Hughes, is hopeful of going one better.

"He's in good form. It was a good run in the AIG and he has come out of it really well," he said yesterday.

"He's more forward this year and I think he has improved. He's stronger anyway, and I think it's a weaker Red Mills this year. He has scoped clean, we haven't over-trained him and he's ready to go."

Hughes nominated the former title-holder Rooster Booster as Hardy Eustace's main threat again at Cheltenham next month, despite the strong Irish team that is likely to line up for the Champion Hurdle.

Hughes pointed to Rooster Booster's course form as being an important factor in the grey's favour, and also for Hardy Eustace.

"Our horse has won at Cheltenham for the last two years. The ground is good at that time of the year and it suits him," said Hughes.

Hardy Eustace's other festival success was in the 2003 SunAlliance Novices Hurdle when he was ridden by Kieran Kelly.