Soldier In Milan marching towards Cheltenham

Emmet Mullins is considering a number of options at the Cheltenham Festival for Soldier In Milan after taking the 2m7f 1xbet.ie Beginners Chase at Punchestown.

The point-to-point winner was sent straight over fences this season after landing a bumper on his Rules debut at the Festival meeting here last spring.

The seven-year-old was narrowly denied over 2m4f at Gowran last month and this step up in trip proved suitable.

Donagh Meyler ’s mount was up with the pace throughout and after being challenged by fellow 13/8 joint favourite Kiss Will at the second last, kept on best when the pair were really asked for an effort going on to score by a length and a half.

There was a 15 lengths gap back to Shuffle The Deck in third.

Mullins said, “It was a nice performance. He’s still a bit green and babyish, I suppose he hasn’t had too much racing under his belt.

“It was nice to see when Paul ranged up, and Donagh sat down on his back, that there seemed to be plenty there. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards.

“He’s a big brute and we said we’d crack on and go chasing for fear he got injured and you’d be losing a year over hurdles. This is his game, three miles and staying tests and soft ground.

“He fences very well for a relative novice.

“He has an entry in the Brown Advisory, and I think I’ve entered him in the two novice handicaps at Cheltenham as well so we’ve plenty of options. We’ll mull over Cheltenham strongly.”

Paddy Power cut the winner into 33/1 (from 50/1) NRNB for the Brown Advisory Novice Chase.

Quotes by Gary Carson