Gardai out in force at Haydock for Court Artist

Court Artist bids to provide Willie Mullins with his first ever winner at Haydock when she lines up in the Betfred Home Of Goals Galore Mares' Novices' Hurdle on Saturday.

The six-year-old daughter of Court Cave carries the colours of the Blue Blood Racing Club, a syndicate made up entirely of members of An Garda Siochana.

The winner of a Kilbeggan bumper during the summer, Court Artist disappointed on her hurdling debut at Down Royal in September, but has since bounced back with successive victories at Ballinrobe and Wexford and steps up to Listed class on Merseyside this weekend.

James Fenton, racing manager for the owners, said: " It's our first runner as a club in the UK and Haydock have been very accommodating. We've 15 lads going over and it's very exciting.

"The press weren't very kind to her after she ran in Down Royal, but she won well in Ballinrobe and beat a very good mare in Barra in Wexford the last day. Barra was less than three lengths off Let's Dance in Cheltenham.

"There aren't many opportunities for novice mares in Ireland, so Willie and Patrick (Mullins) picked out this race and, as always, we left it to them.

"I don't think she'll mind the ground. She's a small mare, but she seems to have the heart and the engine and all the family go in testing conditions."

The Blue Blood Racing Club currently have four horses in training with Mullins and have enjoyed several winners in the two years the syndicate has been running.

Fenton added: " We started up the club in 2015. Court Artist will be our 29th runner on Saturday and we've had 12 winners, so we can't complain.

"It's all down to Willie, who is a genius, and we're very lucky to be supported by some very good breeders. This is the first mare we've leased from Ken Parkhill, who is an absolute gentleman.

"We have 90 shares and 134 people involved and we're all part of the An Garda Siochana.

"It's very much a family orientated club. We all enjoy going racing and taking our children and we've forged great friendships.

"We're not in it to turn money, it's very much a social activity and we're all getting great fun out of it."

Fenton raised thousands of pounds for charity when he rode in the St Patrick's Day Derby at the 2013 Cheltenham Festival.

He said: " I rode a filly called Rosie's Lady. She was the only filly in the race and I'd say she's still running now, but it was a massive experience

"I spent a week riding out for David O'Meara, which was great.

"To get the leg-up in the Cheltenham parade ring and then ride on the track is something I'll never forget."

Court Artist faces just four rivals over two miles and three furlongs.

Fergal O'Brien's Cap Soleil sets the standard having struck twice at Listed level in bumpers before making an impressive start to her jumping career at Newbury. She was last seen finishing second to Dame Rose in a Listed event at the same venue three weeks ago.

The fourth that day, Angels Antics, is sent into battle once more by Nigel Twiston-Davies, while Dan Skelton's runaway Warwick scorer Molly The Dolly and the Tony Coyle-trained Little Pippin complete the line-up.