Mullins to target elusive Boyne Hurdle

THE LADBROKES Boyne Hurdle is a rare big-race gap on Willie Mullins’s CV but the champion trainer looks set to target Sunday’s Grade Two feature at Navan with a vengeance.

Mullins has left six horses among the 15-strong entry for the €40,000 highlight, including star stayers such as Zaidpour, Mourad and Mikael D’Haguenet.

All three are candidates for the World Hurdle at Cheltenham but another of Sunday’s entries, the County Hurdle hero, Final Approach, also has the option of running in Friday’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Another interesting possible starter is ex-Cheltenham festival winner Cousin Vinny, who has spent almost two years on the sidelines since his last start behind Quevega at Punchestown in 2010.

Navan hosts a trio of Grade Two contests on Sunday, with Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown Stud team having five possible starters in the Ten Up Novice Chase over three miles, including Rathlin, who is on a hat-trick over fences. Arkle runner-up Gift Of Dgab figures among the 10 entries left in the Flyingbolt Chase over two miles.