Mullins hoping going not too testing for Cross Trainer Tom Mullins is keeping his fingers crossed conditions at Leopardstown do not deteriorate as stable stalwart Fosters Cross bids for the Racing Post All You Need For Irish Racing Handicap Chase. The 11-year-old has been a magnificent servant to his connections down the years, winning good prizes over fences, over hurdles and on the level. However, with heavy rain turning the ground soft at the Foxrock track ahead of this week's star-studded four-day fixture, Mullins is concerned his charge could get stuck in the mud. "He's in great form and I would say he has a good chance as long as they don't get much more rain," said the trainer. "They are calling the ground soft at the moment and I just hope it doesn't go heavy, as that would really be against him. "We had the option of running over hurdles later in the week, but I'm told the chase course is better than the hurdle track, which is why we went for the race over fences." Trainer Paul Nolan believes King Vuvuzela is capable of making his presence felt, having crept into the race with just 10 stone on his back. Nolan said: "I thought he was a bit unlucky the last day and I'm hopeful he'll run very well. "He is probably better over a bit further, but with the ground turning soft, we thought we'd let him take his chance in this as he gets in with a nice low weight. "Two miles and a furlong at Leopardstown is like two and a half miles anywhere else, so hopefully he'll be all right and he could run a big race."
