RACING:CHAMPION TRAINER Willie Mullins looks like being triple-handed as he pursues a fourth success in next Thursday's €90,000 Connolly's Red Mills Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park.
Pomme Tiepy was trading as low as 7 to 2 favourite in some lists for the prestigious prize after yesterday’s forfeit stage when 32 entries were left in.
As well as Pomme Tiepy, Mullins also left in Ballytrim and The Midnight Club as he chases more success in a race he has already won with Homer Wells (2007), Micko’s Dream (2000) and the Grand National hero Hedgehunter who scored in 2004.
“I would say all three will run. I was happy with Pomme Tiepy in the Paddy Power (third.) She had showed a bit of form at Punchestown prior to that but at least she showed some good form on soft,” he said yesterday. Also among the Thyestes hopefuls are last year’s winner Whinstone Boy as well as the likely topweight Siegemaster.
Thursday’s main support event will be the Grade Two Galmoy Hurdle which has attracted the Mullins star Mourad who made his first start at three miles a winning one at Leopardstown over Christmas. “At the moment the plan is for Mourad to go there,” Mullins said.
The Pat Martin-trained Agus A Vic was fourth to Majestic Concorde in the Paddy Power and is another hoping to land the Thyestes. “He is on target for the Thyestes and will work tomorrow morning. If that goes okay, he will go to Gowran,” said Martin. “He is very good and has come out of the Paddy Power well. He seemed to lack a bit of a turn of foot when they quickened on the far side, but he stayed on in the straight and it was a pretty encouraging run.” He added:
“He goes on pretty much everything, although a bit of ease helps and he doesn’t like gluey ground, but that probably applies to most horses. I would hope that he goes to the Thyestes with a good chance as I was delighted with his run in the Paddy Power, which is an ultra-competitive handicap.”
