Yorkhill© Photo Healy Racing
Yorkhill bids to keep his unbeaten record and huge reputation intact in the EZ Trader Mersey Novices' Hurdle at Aintree this afternoon.
A dual bumper winner before making an impressive hurdling debut at Punchestown, the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old then stepped up to Grade One level to land the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown in early January.
He stretched his record to five from five when slamming the highly-rated Yanworth in the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at last month's Cheltenham Festival and is odds-on across to board to strike gold on Merseyside.
The trainer's son and assistant, Patrick Mullins, said: " Ruby (Walsh) gave him a fantastic ride round the inside at Cheltenham.
"He won with his ears pricked and by the time he came back to the winner's enclosure he was not blowing, which is unusual in a race like that.
" He is a horse with a lot of ability and is very exciting. I think Aintree will suit him, as they will go that stride faster.
"I'm a big fan of his having ridden him a couple of times last season, as he gave me a fantastic feel."
Mullins also saddles Bello Conti who was 13 lengths behind in fourth at Cheltenham.
Perhaps the biggest threat to the hot favourite is Le Prezien trained by Paul Nicholls.
The French import has won three of his five starts in Britain and impressed on his latest appearance at Kelso.
Anthony Bromley, who manages the owning Million In Mind Partnership, said: "He's been really progressive this season and won his Grade Two last time.
"The whole plan was to go to Kelso, miss Cheltenham and then come to Aintree.
"When we made that plan we weren't expecting to have to take on Yorkhill, who was very impressive at Cheltenham, and it's a big ask for us to beat him, but we'll give it a go.
"Le Prezien has earned his shot at a Grade One and this will be his last run for Million In Mind as the contract stipulates he will go to Doncaster Sales in May.
"He's in good form and I hope he does us proud, as he has all season."
