RACING LEOPARDSTOWN WORKOUT:LEOPARDSTOWN'S traditional post-racing workout turned into a damp squib yesterday evening with plenty of horses on show but few potential Cheltenham stars.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins, who normally uses the opportunity to work his top festival hopes, brought just four horses to school over fences.
They included former festival hero Mikael D’Haguenet who was ridden by Ruby Walsh over a circuit of the Dublin track, alongside his fellow novice Quel Esprit.
On the back of it, Ladbrokes cut Quel Esprit’s odds for the four-mile National Hunt Chase to 10 to 1, and Mullins indicated that race could be an option for the grey with Mikael D’Haguenet heading to the RSA Chase.
“I imagine he will go to the RSA. That’s what I’m thinking at the moment. Ruby was happy with his jumping and Paul (Townend) was especially happy with Quel Esprit,” he said.
Another Cheltenham hopeful to gallop was last year’s Albert Bartlett winner Berties Dream, but other trainers have elected to work their festival hopefuls at Leopardstown this morning and tomorrow morning.
They include the champion chaser and current Horse of the Year Big Zeb, who is due to jump a few fences this morning. Others set to continue their preparations today reportedly include the Gold Cup candidate Pandorama.
Mullins also indicated that plans for his Cheltenham novice hurdle team are unchanged with Zaidpour being aimed at the Supreme Novices Hurdle.
Up to 30 horses could make the journey from Mullins’ Carlow yard to Cheltenham.
