Photo to continue Mullins run in Limerick feature Willie Mullins is double-handed in his bid to extend his excellent recent record in the McMahons Builders Providers - New Online Store Just Launched Novice Chase at Limerick. Mullins has saddled four of the last six winners of the Grade Two contest and this year sends Al Boum Photo and Arbre De Vie into battle. Al Boum Photo, the mount of David Mullins, appears the yard's biggest hope after making an impressive debut over fences at Navan last month. Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: "Al Boum Photo looks like a very exciting novice chaser. "He won a Grade Two novice hurdle in Fairyhouse last season and we feel he should be a better horse over fences. "It was great he managed to win over two miles and a furlong in Navan as he's really a horse who wants a trip. "This race over nearly two and a half miles looks tailor-made for him and we'd expect him to run a big race." Arbre De Vie was joint-favourite for the Kerry National at Listowel in the autumn, but could only finish seventh and has disappointed at Galway and Punchestown since. The seven-year-old is one of two Mullins-trained mounts on the card for French jockey Alexis Poirier, who will be riding in Ireland for the first time. Mullins junior added: "Arbre De Vie is a good horse on his day, but can be a bit hit-and-miss. "If he's on a going day, he could pick up some prize-money." Of Poirier, he said: "Alexis has ridden over 100 winners in France and has come to us for six weeks. The racing in France during the winter is at Pau and he decided to come here to learn instead, a bit like Jacques Ricou did a couple of years ago. "He's been riding plenty of work at home and he's a very good rider. "With Ruby (Walsh) injured, it opens up opportunities for other jockeys and it's good to have Alexis on the team." With Gordon Elliott deciding against saddling Death Duty as previously planned, the Cullentra handler is represented by Tombstone and Dounikos. Tombstone must concede weight all round after winning the Grade Three Klairon Davis Novice Chase at Navan earlier this month. Denis Hogan's Inis Meain and the Mouse Morris-trained Tout Est Permis complete the line-up.
