Mullins enters 23 in search of sixth Supreme Novice Hurdle

Willie Mullins again looks like having a major say in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle that gets the Cheltenham Festival under way on March 12.

The champion trainer has won the Supreme five times and accounts for 23 of the 57 Irish-trained entries.

His string is led by Aramon, a 10-length winner in Grade One company at Leopardstown over Christmas, and promising maiden hurdle victor Klassical Dream.

Angels Breath, trained by Nicky Henderson, is 5-1 ante-post favourite after winning at Ascot on his jumps debut in December.

Henderson has other interesting possibles in Mister Fisher and Champagne Platinum as he seeks a fourth Supreme success.

Al Dancer, trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies and like Angels Breath owned by Dai Walters, made it three from three over hurdles with an impressive handicap success at Cheltenham in December and is favourite for the Betfair Handicap Hurdle at Newbury.

Twiston-Davies said: “Al Dancer has been in good form since Cheltenham and the plan is to run next in the Betfair Hurdle, as it is a nice race to win.

“The Supreme is the long-term aim and the Betfair Hurdle will tell us more.”

A strong British challenge is bolstered further by Colin Tizzard’s Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle victor Elixir De Nutz.

Mullins’ Carefully Selected, runner-up in the 2018 Weatherbys Champion Bumper, is among 107 entries for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle over three miles — despite not having had a race over obstacles yet.

The 58 Irish-trained entries also feature Derrinross, Sams Profile, Commander of Fleet and The Big Dog.

Ask Ben, trained by Graeme McPherson, produced a 50-1 shock at Newcastle and proved that was no fluke next time out when registering a 19-length success over three miles at Ayr.

McPherson said: “Ask Ben is in very good form and we were delighted with his performance at Ayr.

“His next start will hopefully be in the Albert Bartlett trial next month at Haydock. That meeting can have quite soft ground. He acts on that ground, but I don’t think he necessarily needs it.

“That race is four weeks before the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. So if everything goes to plan, it will be Haydock in the middle of February and Cheltenham in March.

“He is an extremely exciting prospect and to have a horse around like him at this time of the year is hugely exciting for me and all of the team.”

There are 59 entries for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, of which 33 are trained in Ireland.

Joseph O’Brien has a very strong hand thanks to high-class Flat recruit Sir Erec and Fakir D’Oudairies.

The leading British-trained hope is the Paul Nicholls-trained Quel Destin, who enhanced his claims with victory in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27.