Weather thwarts Esprit plans

The weather continues to frustrate Willie Mullins as he tries to get more experience into top novice hurdler Quel Esprit.

His charge, unbeaten in two over timber, is favourite for both the Neptune Investment Albert Bartlett Novice Hurdles at the Cheltenham Festival.

Mullins had intended running his rising star in the Goffs Slaney Novice Hurdle, first at Navan and then when it was rearranged at Leopardstown on Sunday, but the weather intervened.

"I was hoping to run him at Naas and now Leopardstown is off. If they don't run that race again we may go to Leopardstown for the Delloitte Touche race otherwise things are up in the air," the trainer said.

"I would like to get anothe run into him before Cheltenham and we have time for that."

However Mullins won't rush into deciding upon a Festival target for Quel Esprit.

"I will wait until the last possible moment before deciding which race looks the easiset - it's the best way to win one!" he added.