Martello on the march Martello Tower could earn a trip to the Cheltenham Festival with a bold show in the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on Sunday. The seven-year-old has enjoyed a fine season for trainer Mags Mullins and owner Barry Connell, with Grade Three victories over three miles at Cork and Limerick sandwiched between a heavy fall at Navan. Mullins said: "Our horse is good and seems well since Limerick. "He's unassuming at home but he's a tough horse. "He's coming back to two and a half miles and is going back the other way. He fell the last time he went left-handed at Navan so I'd like to see him jump well with a clear round. "If he's going to go to Cheltenham he needs to be able to go that way round." Trainer Gordon Elliott and owners Gigginstown House Stud team up with the exciting No More Heroes. The dual bumper winner has won on his last two starts over hurdles, most recently claiming the notable scalp of Shaneshill in the Navan Novice Hurdle last month. Big-race jockey Bryan Cooper said: "He has his chance, but it won't be a walk in the park, that's for sure. "There are plenty of other good ones, but our horse is entitled to take his chance. "He's favourite for the Albert Bartlett in Cheltenham, but I think two and a half miles around here on slower ground should be fine for him. "We'll see what happens on Sunday and make a plan from there." Champion trainer Willie Mullins has saddled the last three winners in Boston Bob, Pont Alexandre and Sure Reef and launches a three-pronged assault. Speaking on his website www.wpmullins.com, he said: "Killultagh Vic ran a cracker at Ascot last time and the form has been advertised since. The trip will suit and he will love the ground. He must have a real good chance. "Outlander was a little disappointing at Limerick so we are bringing him back in trip here to see if he can regain winning form. "Net D'Ecosse is a nice type that we bought to go chasing but we will keep him to hurdles this season. We will have a fair idea how good he is after today."
