Rely on Mikael D'Haguenet to step up again

NAAS NEWS AND PREVIEW:ONE OF Willie Mullins' army of top-class novice hurdlers takes another step up the ladder tomorrow when Mikael D'Haguenet contests the Goffs Slaney Hurdle at Naas.

Mullins is also responsible for rising stars Cousin Vinny and Hurricane Fly, who dominate the ante-post lists for Cheltenham's novice events in March.

However, Mikael D'Haguenet appeared on the radar after slamming Noel Meade's previously unbeaten Pandorama in the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial at Navan by seven lengths on only his second run for Mullins.

"I imagine he did surprise me how easy he won the last day but I think Pandorama probably had an off-day," said Mullins. "Our horse is improving and Noel's had had three quick races but to win a Grade One like that, well, we were delighted all the same.

"He is a huge horse, I must measure him but he is probably over 16.2 hands. What he is doing over hurdles is surprising us somewhat because we bought him as a chaser.

"He's having to give weight away being a Grade One winner in a Grade Two but he should handle the ground okay, he goes left-handed and we are hoping for another good run.

"He will have an entry for Cheltenham but I'd be very worried about him coming down the hill on good ground, the size of him. A lot of horses run at Cheltenham and don't run again for a good while after. They go some gallop coming down that hill and there's only one hurdle in the last half-mile, I'd rather see a few more hurdles."

Taking him on is Paul Nolan's Clan Tara, winner of two of his three starts under Rules, but the Co Wexford handler is well aware of the task.

"Our horse would have to improve an awful lot to get into the reckoning," said Nolan. "He's a nice sort but a typical chasing type in the making. The ground won't be as bad as it was the last day but I don't think he'll be up to that standard over hurdles, I'm hoping he'll turn into a better chaser."

Dessie Hughes hopes Western Charmer will make amends for running out at the final flight when a close fourth in the race won by The Bishop Looney at Cork last month.

"We don't quite know what he did the last day. He was leaning out to the left away from the hurdle and ran out," said the Kildare trainer. "Hopefully we'll know our strength when he's taken on those horses on Sunday.

"The form of his Punchestown win has been well franked since and he's in good form."

However, it's hard to oppose Mikael D'Haguenet who created such an impression at Navan.

Mullins, meanwhile, has all but ruled out a tilt at the Champion Hurdle with Hurricane Fly. The French import has already won twice at the highest level this season and there had been suggestions in some quarters that Mullins may be tempted to throw the five-year-old into the mix against the best.

"Hurricane Fly seems to have improved again from Fairyhouse and what he did the other day (at Leopardstown) was certainly very good. I'm not a fan of running novices in championship events so at the moment the Champion Hurdle isn't on the radar with him."

Willie's brother, Tom, is hoping Made In Taipan can return to winning ways in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase. The seven-year-old has to give weight to all his seven rivals having won his first two races over fences before finishing fourth to Follow The Plan and Tatenen in the Grade One Durkan New Homes Novice Chase at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day.

"We just thought he came out of Leopardstown so well that we'd have to run him on Sunday," said Mullins. "This looks an ideal race. He loves Naas and was brilliant there on his first run over fences."

Opposition includes Jim Dreaper's Chiraaz, a winner over the bigger obstacles at Galway.