Patrick Mullins gearing up for Transmission mount

Neil Mulholland has confirmed Patrick Mullins will ride Cheltenham Festival hope Transmission in the Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup Novices’ Handicap Chase on Tuesday.

The marathon event is open to professional riders for the first time this season, with James Bowen and Conor O’Farrell both having ridden the stayer at various parts of the current campaign.

Mullins partnered Transmission to victory at Prestbury Park in November and he will be back aboard the eight-year-old next week, as the jockey seeks a record-extending fifth win in the National Hunt Chase.

Mulholland said on Wednesday: “Patrick Mullins rides him, he won on him in November giving him a fantastic ride.

“James Bowen would be the normal rider, I know he has his appeal (against a whip suspension) tomorrow, but Patrick is down to ride him at the moment.

“Professional riders are there but he’s a horse who is not keen and if anything a lad who rides with a great length of leg suits him. Patrick got a great tune out of him before and fingers crossed he can do the same next Tuesday.”

Transmission is a best-priced 6-1 for the final race on day one and having thrived over the larger obstacles earlier in the season, he has followed the route used by Mulholland with his only Festival winner, The Druids Nephew, by tuning up for this assignment in the Cleeve Hurdle on Trials day.

Mulholland continued: “I’m very happy with him and all is good. He won very well at the track in November and we’re looking forward to running him.

“We’ve obviously had this race in mind all season really and even his last run in the Cleeve, he was galloping all the way up the straight and was doing his best work at the end.

“We ran him in the Cleeve as his mark was already there and he may as well have a run over hurdles and go have a look at the stands and see the whole layout again and keep him familiar. It gave him a nice day out and let him see everything he’s going to see on the day that matters.”