Pylonthepressure winning a Thurles bumper© Photo Healy Racing
Willie Mullins has really stepped up a few gears over the past month and the champion trainer fires another few powerful bullets in the two maiden hurdles at Clonmel on Thursday.
The Closutton maestro has sent out 24 winners in the last three weeks at a strike-rate not far off 50 per cent, and Ruby Walsh will bid to add to the tally aboard Crack Mome in the opening Clonmel Maiden Hurdle.
The Andrea and Graham Wylie-owned gelding won a three-year-old bumper in France and is already as short as 14-1 for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Morgan, an impressive bumper winner at Cork, heads the opposition in this 16-runner event along with Blast Of Koeman and point-to-point winner Ornua.
Patrick Mullins said: "Crack Mome is a horse we like and he's done some good work at home. We're expecting a big run, but I think Morgan is a very good horse as well.
"Our horse will have to be as good as we think he is to get off the mark."
The multiple champion amateur rider takes the mount himself on Pylonthepressure in the Next Meeting Thursday February 2nd (Q.R.) Maiden Hurdle.
The six-year-old gelding scored twice in bumpers but filled the runner-up spot when odds-on for both maiden hurdle outings last term.
Kagney, a bumper winner at Downpatrick before beating all bar Stand Up And Fight in a Punchestown maiden hurdle, appears the chief threat.
Mullins is looking forward to riding the former winning point-to-pointer, saying: "His form from last year is very strong - he was second to Tombstone and Our Duke, who are both graded performers.
"It looks like two-and-a-half will suit and he's been working well at home. We'll be disappointed if he's not bang there at the finish."
Elsewhere on this seven-race card, Mullins' big rival for the trainers' title, Gordon Elliott, has solid claims with Dawerann in the Powerstown Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old came home strongly when runner-up to stablemate Bull Ride at Navan and now has most to fear from Neddyvaughan and Omega Springs.
Tony Martin is mob-handed with four runners in the Clonmel Racecourse Supporters Club Only 90 Euro Beginners Chase, and perhaps Minella Scamp will prove the pick.
Davy Russell's mount should go close if reproducing his second to Attribution at Naas.
