Mullins set for big day at Gowran Willie Mullins has an iron grip on the races supporting the feature Thyestes Chase and Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park on Thursday and is likely to have four short-priced favourites on a day when the champion trainer should dominate. Mullins, who has trained 125 winners in Ireland already this season, begins with Footpad in the opening three-runner Ladbrokes Hurdle. Ruby Walsh's mount, who was placed at Graded level at Leopardstown over Christmas, should readily account for recent maiden hurdle winner Jazz Ranger, while Tagg's Island is effectively a no-hoper on his hurdles debut. Half an hour later, Mullins and Walsh combine with Au Quart De Tour, an unlucky final-flight faller at Fairyhouse in December, and he might prove too strong for Tamlough Boy and Minella Scamp in the Langton House Hotel Maiden Hurdle, Mullins teams up with Bryan Cooper in the PMF Accountants Beginners Chase with last season's Supreme Novices' Hurdle sixth Tell Us More and he can be expected to have learned plenty from a promising chase debut when third at Leopardstown over Christmas. Mullins' Gigginstown House Stud-owned Avenir D'Une Vie contests the concluding PJ Foley Memorial INH Bumper, where the Navan scorer opposes the similarly-owned but Gordon Elliott-trained Ballela Boy, a winner at Naas in November. Jessica Harrington's New To This Town beat a subsequent winner when winning his only bumper at Thurles in December and he also takes his chance. The only race without a Mullins-trained runner is the Martinstown Opportunity Handicap Hurdle and might go to hat-trick chasing Ice Cool for trainer Val O'Brien. By Tom Weekes
