How will Willie Mullins divide his novice hurdlers at the Festival?

The inevitable questions of where the Willie Mullins battalion of Festival contenders will end up running tends to intensify in the aftermath of the Dublin Racing Festival.

In previous years answers have been hard to come by with regards to the novice hurdlers emerging from Closutton, but the 'Willie Mullins Bingo' numbers might be more realistic to forecast in 2025.

We're looking at some of the leading first-season hurdlers under Mullins' care and where they may end up running in the Cotswolds.

Kopek Des Bordes - Supreme Novices' Hurdle

Such was his imperious display at the Dublin Racing Festival, Kopek Des Bordes has been installed as hot-favourite to win the Festival curtain raiser on March 11th.

The Fairyhouse bumper winner looked quite raw on his hurdles bow at Leopardstown over Christmas, particularly with his sketchy jumping, but there was a jolt of improvement in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle at the DRF and he appears to have an Un Des Sceaux-like reserve of ferocious energy.

The Supreme has been confirmed as his target by connections and he rates as the one to beat.

Salvator Mundi - Supreme Novices' Hurdle

While Kopek Des Bordes was sparkling at the DRF, Salvator Mundi was at home in Closutton losing his position as Supreme favourite.

He was only sixth in the Triumph Hurdle last March, albeit on his stable bow for Mullins after chasing home the supremely talented Sir Gino in one French start, so he has a Cheltenham score to settle.

He won the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Hurdle at Punchestown in January despite some sloppy jumping, but he was never better than when increasing the pace late on and could be well suited to the Festival's opening contest. Don't cross him off in haste.

Kawaboomga - Turners Novices' Hurdle

One of Mullins novices' in the colours of JP McManus, Kawaboomga finished second behind Kopek Des Bordes at Christmas over two miles and then won his maiden at Fairyhouse over the same trip in last January.

His festive effort looks fairly good now and a step up in trip for the Turners appears most likely at Cheltenham.

Kaid D'Authie - County Hurdle

Another McManus-owned inmate, Kaid D'Authie won a Leopardstown maiden over 2m4f on yielding ground at their big Christmas meeting.

He was second favourite in Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novices' Hurdle at the DRF but was a well held fourth as Kopek Des Bordes starred.

He looks destined to go down the handicap route at Cheltenham and has the requisite three runs to do so.

Kel Histoire - Turners Novices' Hurdle

A good winner of maiden a Cork (2m, yielding) in mid-December, Kel Histoire chased home Salvator Mundi in the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown in January.

He couldn't match the turn of foot his stablemate displayed that afternoon, but it was a forward step nonetheless and the way he finished suggests a step up in trip may be in the offing.

Final Demand - Turners Novices' Hurdle

Final Demand got the Dublin Racing Festival off to a flyer when he cruised to victory in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle over 2m6f, beating a solid yardstick in Wingmen in impressive fashion.

His stamina is confirmed, but a slight drop back in trip at a track like Cheltenham won't inconvenience him. Mullins has gone on record suggesting he's not aiming him at the Albert Bartlett and he's got a stranglehold on the Turners market as such.

Inn At The Park - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Inn At The Park could be an outsider worth noting for the Albert Bartlett on Festival Friday. He won his maiden at Fairyhouse over just shy of three miles and did it well, with stablemate Fishery Lane back in third.

That rival is much shorter in the antepost betting for the Albert Bartlett, but Inn At The Park can be forgiven a lesser run in a Thurles novice in January, as he was forced to make the running. He's still got untapped potential.

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