Willie Mullins horses to follow on Day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival

You simply cannot look any further than the great Willie Mullins on day 1 of the Cheltenham Festival. He always has a strong hand to play on the first day and this year looks no different.

Here we take a look at Mullins’ runners on Tuesday and consider the likelihood that he gets off to a flyer once again. With the news that Lossiemouth goes for the Mares’ Hurdle, surely he’s going to have plenty of winners.

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (1.20)

Mullins trains half of the 12-runner field and Kopek Des Bordes is many people’s idea of a banker. It would be hard not to have been impressed by his performance at the Dublin Racing Festival and he pulled clear to win impressively, despite doing plenty wrong.

Salvator Mundi was ante-post favourite for a while and he followed up his 62-length maiden hurdle win at Tipperary by winning the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. A talented horse, he’s perhaps a little behind some of the runners on form but shouldn’t be ruled out.

Irancy, Karbau and Funiculi Funicula arrive here off the back of impressive maiden wins but probably have a bit to find. Karniquet filled the runner-up spot behind Kopek Des Bordes last time and it’s hard to imagine him reversing the form.

Arkle Challenge Trophy (2.00)

Quality over quantity here and Mullins’ sole representative is odds-on favourite Majborough. Last season’s Triumph Hurdle winner looks like an even better horse this year and has won both chase starts in very good style. Winning the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown last time out, he faces four rivals and looks like the one they all have to beat.

Mares’ Hurdle (3.20)

Just the three runners for Mullins here, a relatively small number by his standards. Lossiemouth heads the field and the star mare is by far the best horse in the field. It’s a slight concern that she took a heavy fall last time, but provided her confidence isn’t impacted, victory should be on the cards.

Jade De Grugy has done little wrong throughout her career to date and you would imagine the 151-rated mare will be in the mix once again. Gala Marceaux could be a little overpriced, but didn’t blow anyone away when beaten in a poor race at Warwick in February.

Champion Hurdle (4.00)

Defending champion State Man has a bit to prove this year and connections have gone for first time cheekpieces in the hope that they have a positive effect. Constitution Hill and Brighterdaysahead both appeal more and he’s not expected to repeat the trick.

Winter Fog finished ahead of stablemate State Man behind Brighterdaysahead and it would cause a huge shock if he was to claim the Champion Hurdle crown.

Hallgarten And Novum Wines Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (4.40)

Murcia won a Listed race at Auteuil for previous connections and was a neck behind a subsequent Grade 3 winner at Naas in February. Rachael Blackmore takes the ride but she’s probably not the best handicapped horse in the race.

Paul Townend rides Sony Bill, who has a similar profile to Murcia, and he has a mark of 136, having been beaten twice by leading Triumph candidate Hello Neighbour.

Princess Royal National Hunt Challenge Cup (5.20)

Captain Cody is Mullins’ sole representative in this race and the trainer has won this race three times since 2018. He doesn’t look massively well treated on a mark of 140, but he was a Grade 2 winner over 2m4f in his novice hurdle days.

His best effort to date over fences came at Navan last time out and he kept on well over three miles. The step up in trip may well suit, but one would imagine he has a bit to find.

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