Mullins Four-Handed In Bumper

Willie Mullins will have four runners in tomorrow's Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham after Irish Invader just missed the cut.

The Irish handler has an admirable record in the extended two-mile race having won it with Missed That last year and such horses as Florida Pearl and Alexander Banquet in the past.

He will be bidding for a sixth win in the Grade One contest when he sends out Equus Maximus, the mount of Ruby Walsh, Ballytrim, Freds Benefit and Shady Willow.

However, Irish Invader will not go to post as he was one of nine eliminated from the race. He missed out on a run by just one.

Jonjo O'Neill is hopeful Wichita Lineman can go one better than his illustrious half-brother Rhinestone Cowboy, who was runner-up to Pizarro in this race four years ago.

'Our first intention was to wait for Liverpool with Wichita but we think he's deserved a crack at this race,' said the Jackdaws Castle trainer.

'He's unbeaten in two runs at Newbury and like his brother Rhinestone Cowboy is a lazy individual.

'He pleased me with the way he won on his latest start at Newbury coming off a slow pace when they sprinted up the straight and he beat a well-regarded horse of Paul Nicholls (Pepporoni Pete).

'JP Magnier gets the best out of him, just as he did with Rhinestone and although it's one of the hardest races to win at Cheltenham, we feel we're in there with a shout.'

Of his other runner Albertas Run, O'Neill said: 'Albertas Run is also unbeaten in two starts and although he had to work hard for his win at Haydock, he has pleased me since and he also could go well.'

Philip Hobbs has warned punters not to ignore his representative Leading Contender simply because he has been absent since winning the second of his two starts at Cheltenham in November.

The Minehead trainer said: 'He's unbeaten and I think some people have forgotten about him because he's been off for so long.

'That was intentional because I thought he was rather immature and that it would do him good to give him a decent break.

'He's a smashing prospect for novice hurdles next season and if we get any more rain that will not be a problem, in fact he is one of my runners who would benefit from it.'

? PA Sport