Mullins ready for busy Christmas

Willie Mullins saddles five runners on the opening day of the Christmas Festival at Leopardstown.

The Closutton maestro will be hoping to make significant inroads into Gordon Elliott's lead in the race to be crowned this season's champion trainer over the festive period.

Four fantastic days of action at Foxrock commences on St Stephen's Day and Mullins is looking forward to watching the action unfold.

He said: "It's racing's busiest time of the year, except for the other festivals.

"Certainly around Christmas time, with people being off, it's very tough and hard on staff.

"But it's like people in the entertainment industry, people in racing know it's the time of year they have to work and we all get on with it."

The opening afternoon gets under way with the Horse & Jockey Hotel Maiden Hurdle, in which Mullins saddles Bunk Off Early.

The four-year-old was a useful performer on the Flat for Andrew Oliver and kicks off his jumping career in the colours of the Supreme Horse Racing Club under Ruby Walsh.

Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: "It's fantastic to have a runner on St Stephen's Day at Leopardstown.

"Bunk Off Early is a lovely horse we bought out of Andy Oliver's yard. He won nicely on soft ground at Cork on the Flat and has schooled nicely over hurdles.

"We're hoping he'll run a good race for his owners."

Joseph O'Brien's Outspoken sets the standard on jumping form, having filled the runner-up spot on his Fairyhouse introduction 12 months ago.

O'Brien also saddles Imperial Way, who was runner-up to the exciting Mullins inmate Getabird in a Fairyhouse bumper last time.

The Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle is an interesting heat.

Mullins relies upon Champion Bumper fourth Castello Sforza, who can be expected to build on his promising hurdling debut.

Noel Meade's Joey Sasa and Barra from Elliott's yard look his two biggest threats.

Mullins saddles Bapaume in the Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle and Min in a fascinating Racing Post Novice Chase, before Jarry D´Honneur rounds off his day one team in the "Bet Through The Racing Post App" Handicap Chase.

Elliott runs leading contender Ball D'Arc in the latter contest and also has strong claims in the concluding bumper with Midnight Escape.

The Cardinal Capital Handicap Hurdle is an open race, with the title-race leader booking Ruby Walsh to partner his recent Punchestown scorer Dawerann.