Mullins four hold Tolworth entries Briar Hill leads a Willie Mullins quartet entered for the Grade 1 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday. The champion trainer can call upon his Champion Bumper hero, who made it two from two over obstacles in the Grade 1 Navan Novice Hurdle, as well as Gitane Du Berlais, Upazo and Vautour. However, Dan Skelton will resist the urge to run Willow's Saviour. The Warwickshire-based handler had been considering the in-form six-year-old for the Grade One at the Esher circuit, but he will instead be preserved for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on February 8th. Skelton tweeted: "Going to give the Tolworth a miss with Willow's Saviour. Straight to Betfair Hurdle at Newbury as fresh as possible." Willow's Saviour has been in excellent form this term, and rattled off a hat-trick with a four-length triumph in the valuable Ladbroke handicap hurdle at Ascot on December 21st. Nicky Henderson has three to choose from for the Tolworth, with recent Newbury winner Josses Hill a leading contender. Ascot winner Royal Boy and Tistory are his other entries. John Ferguson has useful Flat recruits Mijhaar and Prince Siegfried in the race, with Paul Nicholls entering just one runner in the unbeaten Irving. Last year's Punchestown Champion Bumper winner The Liquidator could take his chance for David Pipe after making a dream start to his hurdling career with a win at Carlisle. He then breezed home in Grade 2 company at Cheltenham last time.
