Willie Mullins sets Mayo National puzzle for punters

Ballinrobe’s biggest date of the year on Tuesday evening sees punters presented with a puzzle by Willie Mullins.

The champion trainer’s representative in the featured €60,000 McHale Mayo National is Rock Road, a rare runner from the bottom of the handicap for jump racing’s dominant figure. Not only is he at the bottom of the weights but Rock Road is 6lbs ‘wrong’ considering a lowly official rating of 112.

It means jockey Kieran Callaghan’s 7lb claim is most negated in an ultra-competitive 16-runner handicap.

However, the fact Mullins is letting Rock Road take his chance, and the horse’s profile generally, will lead many to consider him a very serious player.

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This is a horse that has run just once a year for Mullins since switched to him by Michael Bowe.

The first spin yielded a win over fences at Kilbeggan in 2020 and while he didn’t cut much ice in a hurdle event in 2021 there was a lot to like about a running on second to Life In The Park in the Martinstown Opportunity Final at Punchestown in April.

Back over fences, and a longer trip, Rock Road still looks a realistic option considering he gets weight from most of these including almost two stone from Max Flamingo.

Hewick landed the big handicap chase at Sandown still often referred to as the ‘Whitbred’ in superb style in April and returns to action over flights in Tuesday’s €30,000 handicap hurdle.

Now rated a lofty 155 over fences, Hewick’s hurdle mark of 130, combined with jockey Rob James’ 7lb claim, represents a convincing argument.

The Beginners Chase title contains its 2016 winner, a certain Tiger Roll, so the dual-Grand National winner’s jockey Davy Russell will be keen to win it on his sole ride of the day.

Eskylane was a point to point winner before graduating to be a high class handicapper over flights.

However Sole Pretender was better again over hurdles and the prolific eight year old could be an interesting recruit to fences.

Tuesday’s bumper presented Patrick Mullins with a dilemma of his own with both Vasda Queen and Rocco Ray lining up.

Both ran at the Punchestown festival when the champion amateur had a frustrating spin in the Land Rover Bumper as Rocco Ray looked very green before winding up a never nearer fifth.

Jody Townend was on Vasda Queen when she was runner up to her stable companion Lisngar Fortune in another race but the jockeys switch this time.

The tight Ballinrobe circuit may not be an ideal for Rocco Ray but he could step up significantly for his debut experience.