Mikael takes next step in Slaney Hurdle Willie Mullins has an embarrassment of riches in the novice hurdling division this season with the likes of Hurricane Fly and Cousin Vinny, and another Grade 1 winner from the stable, Mikael d'Haguenet, is in action again at Naas on Sunday in the Goffs Slaney Hurdle. Mikael D'Haguenet rose to prominence when slamming the Noel Meade-trained Pandorama in the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial at Navan last month on only his second run for Mullins. 'I imagine he did surprise me how easy he won the last day but I think Pandorama probably had on off day. Our horse is improving and Noel's had had three quick races but to win a Grade One like that, well, we were delighted all the same,' said Mullins. 'He's a huge horse, I must measure him but he is probably over 16.2 hands. What he is doing over hurdles is surprising us somewhat because we bought him as a chaser.' 'He's having to give weight away being a Grade One winner in a Grade Two but he should handle the ground okay, he goes left-handed and we are hoping for another good run. He'll have an entry for Cheltenham but I'd be very worried about him coming down the hill on good ground, the size of him.' 'A lot of horses run at Cheltenham and don't run again for a good while after. They go some gallop coming down that hill and there's only one hurdle in the last half-mile - I'd rather see a few more hurdles.' Taking him on is Paul Nolan's Clan Tara, winner of two of his three starts under Rules, but the County Wexford handler is well aware of the task. 'Our horse would have to improve an awful lot to get into the reckoning but he's a nice sort and a typical chasing type in the making. The ground won't be as bad as it was the last day but I don't think he'll be up to that standard over hurdles. I'm hoping he'll turn into a better chaser,' said Nolan. Dessie Hughes hopes Western Charmer will make amends for running out at the final flight when a close fourth in the race won by The Bishop Looney at Cork last month. 'We don't quite know what he did the last day. He was leaning out to the left away from the hurdle and ran out. Hopefully we'll know our strength when he's taken on those horses on Sunday. The form of his Punchestown win has been well franked since and he's in good form,' said the Curragh trainer. The six-runner line-up is completed by Fisher Bridge, The Bishop Looney and Garrai Ard.
