Insight from Willie Mullins team into their Dublin Racing Festival contenders

The Dublin Racing Festival promises to be a big weekend for Willie Mullins and the trainer's son Patrick on Monday provided updates on some of the Closutton stable's expansive team for the big meeting.

Klassical Dream (entered in PCI Irish Champion Hurdle, Saturday)

He made a bad mistake last time and that put paid to his chances but if he learns from that he's still a very high-class horse, so it should be a cracking race.

I still think he'll be very dangerous when he gets soft ground over two miles and to me it looked a bit like the mistake he made at Leopardstown over Christmas – similar to the first in the Morgiana – and he had the look of a horse going a stride faster than he's comfortable.

If it came up soft at Cheltenham, I think he has to be taken very seriously.

Min: started his season with a bang in the John Durkan Memorial Chase last monthCredit: Caroline Norris

Min (entered in Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, Saturday)

I think Min got the run of the race in the John Durkan, everyone seemed to want to drop out. He'll improve for the run and he won despite not being at his best as he made a few mistakes, which is unusual. I think we'll run three or four horses in the race and there's great prize-money.

Cilaos Emery: a classy operatorCredit: Alain Barr

Cilaos Emery (entered in Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, Saturday)

We don't know how good he is. He's been a fragile horse who has missed time here and there.

He used to be very keen, which was his downfall, but he's settling much better now. He's had to learn very quickly as he'll be going to Cheltenham off the back of four runs (over fences) if he runs here.

Laurina: had excuses for her Leopardstown defeat last monthCredit: Caroline Norris

Laurina (entered in Flogas Novice Chase, Sunday)

She had an excuse for her run last time when bursting a blood vessel. It's worrying but we've seen horses do that on a day and it's not come back to impact them.

Perhaps a few of our horses were under the weather as some ran below par. We've had no problems with Laurina since so touch wood that was just a one-off.

Melon (right): successful at Leopardstown over the festive periodCredit: Caroline Norris

Melon (entered in ERSG Arkle Novice Chase, Saturday, and Flogas Novice Chase, Sunday)

I was disappointed with his overall performance at Leopardstown but I did like the way he battled after a mistake the last.

He seems to jump to his right a little bit, which isn't ideal, and although he jumps well I'm not sure he's a sharp enough jumper for two miles. I think when he steps up in trip you'll see improvement in his form.

Unexcepted: impressed on his Irish debut at Fairyhouse in NovemberCredit: Alain Barr

Unexcepted (entered in Ladbrokes Hurdle, Saturday, and Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, Sunday)

Two and a half miles on heavy ground at Limerick wasn't his cup of tea. I wasn't letting him jump as he can because of the conditions.

We made two lengths at the first hurdle down the back straight when meeting it spot on, and on quick ground over two miles you could do that at every hurdle. I wouldn't give up on him at all.

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