Mullins eyes longer trip for Vischio

Emmet Mullins has provided updates on several of his Cheltenham contenders including a step up in trip that is on the cards for Vischio.

Its On The Line finished runner-up in the St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival before landing the equivalents at Aintree and Punchestown.

In this campaign, he has finished second at Down Royal over Christmas and third in Naas last month. He is now booked for a return to Cheltenham.

Mullins said: “Its On The Line will go for the hunter chase. He’ll have to improve a lot from his run the last day (in Naas), but hopefully he can do it."

Vischio landed the €100,000 mares' handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival in February, but was unplaced in seventh in the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso on Saturday.

The trainer said: “Vischio didn’t have the rub of the green at the start yesterday and never got into the race, but she stayed on well and might go for the Coral Cup. Another few furlongs won’t be any hinderance to her.”

In relation to his other handicappers he added: “McLaurey, it’s still undecided whether he’ll go County (Hurdle) or Martin Pipe, and So Scottish we’re probably leaning towards the Grand Annual."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee