Brave starts Flat campaign at Chester Wicklow Brave is using Friday's Boodles Diamond Ormonde Stakes at Chester as a potential stepping stone to some bigger targets later in the season. Despite not being seen since finishing third in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle in November, Willie Mullins' talented dual-purpose performer is out to make his presence felt, with the one-mile-five-furlong trip expected to be ideal. Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "It is his first run back this year. It looked like he didn't stay at Royal Ascot (Queen Alexandra Stakes) but it might be a bit hard judging him on one race. "This shorter trip should suit. Although it is his first run of the season, he is ready to go otherwise we would not have sent him over. "I think the ground and track should be fine. We didn't race him on the heavy ground over the winter as we wanted to keep him fresh for a Flat campaign this year. "We thought he could win a couple of good Flat races and be similar to Max Dynamite. I imagine all things being well we would look at Royal Ascot and maybe the Irish St Leger later on."
