Tavern Times will now go straight to Cheltenham

Tom Mullins is in bullish mood as he prepares Tavern Times for a tilt at the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next month.

The Presenting gelding justified plenty of market confidence when turning in a hugely impressive display on his racecourse introduction at Fairyhouse in October.

Mullins had been hoping to get some more experience into his charge at Naas on Sunday but as that meeting was abandoned, he now looks set to head straight for the Festival.

"It's unfortunate Naas was abandoned on Sunday as we would have liked to run him there, but he'll probably go straight to the Cheltenham bumper now," said Mullins.

"He's a real class horse and has been working very well recently.

"We've taken him to the Curragh for a few bits of work and he has always been very good.

"I think he's improved a fair bit since his first run and we just have to hope the bubble doesn't burst in Cheltenham, but I do fancy him quite a bit.

"He's a very good bumper horse and I haven't seen anything that has run yet to frighten me too much.

"He's 14-1 at the moment and I think he looks a good bet at that."