Mullins pair to tackle Down Royal raiders

Boston Bob remains on track to reappear in this Saturday's €140,000 JNwine Champion Chase at Down Royal, the first Grade One of the National Hunt season which Willie Mullins hopes could be a successful first step towards an elusive Gold Cup victory in March.

Ireland’s champion jumps trainer won the first renewal of Down Royal’s most valuable race with Florida Pearl 15 years ago and later that season that horse became the first of a frustrating list of runner-up placings for Mullins in steeplechasing’s blue-riband.

The latest, On His Own, was controversially edged out by Lord Windermere at last season’s festival and that horse is joined by another Graham Wylie-owned star in Boston Bob among a dozen entries left in this Saturday’s feature.

A trio of Grade Three races are spread around Naas and Cork on Sunday with the latter fixture also hosting the €50,000 Paddy Power Cork Grand National. Down Royal will also host Saturday’s Grade Two Powers Irish Whiskey Chase.

However the Nicholson is the undoubted weekend centrepiece with Boston Bob already as low as 12/1 in some ante-post Gold Cup lists after looking a rejuvenated performer with Grade One wins at both Aintree and Punchestown last season. Along with On His Own he is a top-rated 164 for Saturday’s race which could see a pair of cross-channel raiders.

Paul Nicholls has confirmed Rocky Creek is on target to try and give Britain’s champion trainer a fifth win in the race while Nicky Henderson has left in the mare, Ma Filleule, winner of the Topham at Liverpool, and runner-up to the current Gold Cup favourite Holywell at Cheltenham prior to that.

Last year’s Nicholson winner Roi Du Mee is among a quartet of Gigginstown Stud possibles which includes First Lieutenant who has an alternative engagement in Saturday’s Charlie Hall at Wetherby. Both the Galway Plate hero Road To Riches and Don Cossack also hold entries in the Grade Two on the same Down Royal card.

Ground conditions at Down Royal are currently yielding with an unsettled forecast for the rest of the week.

Punchestown’s authorities are also anticipating easier ground for today’s meeting which could see some promising recruits to fences in the two Beginners Chases.

Mr Fiftyone mixed it with some of the best novice hurdlers last season but has always looked one for steeplechasing, a comment that also applies to the imposing Wounded Warrior who teams up with Bryan Cooper today.