Supreme Poised For Return

Rule Supreme, winner of the Royal And SunAlliance Chase at Cheltenham in 2004, is nearing a return to the track after a two-and-a-half-year absence.

Trained by Willie Mullins, the 12-year-old is entered in Thursday's MacLochlainn Road Markings Ltd Kinloch Brae Chase, along with other senior stablemates Adamant Approach and Hedgehunter.

While Mullins has yet to commit Rule Supreme to the Thurles race, he does anticipate taking the wraps off him somewhere in the near future.

The County Carlow trainer said: 'We had him back early in the autumn and he met with a setback but he's back again now.

'I don't know if he's going to run on Thursday now, but he's done a few bits of fast work. We'll get stuck into him this week and see how things go.'

Mullins will take things one step at a time with the gelding but has handed him a hopeful entry in the totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup.

'He always had ability and won a Sun Alliance around Cheltenham and the further distance of the Gold Cup would suit him better,' reasoned Mullins.

'He does have to come back and show form again, but I can't enter him in three to four weeks so we had to at least have him in there (the Gold Cup).'

(C) PA Sport