Mullins strongly represented in French Champion Hurdle Willie Mullins has six possible runners as he chases a fifth triumph in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteuil on Sunday. It is 15 years since the 12-times champion trainer first claimed the Grade One prize with Nobody Told Me and he has since added to his tally with Rule Supreme (2004) and the popular dual winner Thousand Stars (2011 and 2012). This year’s squad includes the mercurial Yorkhill, who needs to bounce back to form following a disappointing campaign. The other potential Mullins-trained runners in the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil are Coquin Mans, Killultagh Vic, Bacardys, Bapaume and Let’s Dance. Last year’s winner L’Ami Serge, trained by Nicky Henderson, and Nick Williams’ Tea For Two are the two British contenders. Mullins is set to saddle Djakadam in a bid to win the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on the same afternoon for the first time. The nine-year-old was last seen filling the runner-up spot in the Punchestown Gold Cup for the fourth time. Guillaume Macaire’s So French has won the race in each of the last two years and also features among 15 remaining hopefuls. The Grade One feature on Saturday’s card at the Paris venue is the Prix Alain du Breil. Mullins has won this juvenile prize twice before, with Diakali in 2013 and Footpad two years ago. This year the Closutton maestro has three possible runners in Mr Adjudicator, Saglawy and Msassa, who finished second, third and fourth respectively behind the Mullins-trained Saldier at Punchestown last month.
