'He could be a name to remember' - Willie Mullins dark horse set for Tramore debut in race trainer won with Gaelic Warrior

Willie Mullins enjoyed big-race success in Sunday's John Durkan Memorial Chase with Fact To File and the trainer unleashes a potentially exciting prospect at Tramore today in Karniquet, who represents Mullins in the opening 2m maiden hurdle (12.45). Here we preview his latest potential star . . .

• Willie Mullins stable tour: ‘The sort of stuff he was showing me on the gallops means he could make it right to the very top over fences’ 

Who is he?

Karniquet was placed in two four-year-old hurdles at Pau and Auteuil earlier this year, beaten just three-quarters of a length on his most recent outing. The son of Kapgarde is a half-brother to Gemirande, a four-time winner in Britain for Venetia Williams, and he debuts for Willie Mullins in a race the trainer won in 2022 with the high-class Gaelic Warrior. Paul Townend is booked to ride and Karniquet will race in the famous Gigginstown silks.

What they say

Talking to the Racing Post in his stable tour, published online for Members' Club subscribers on Sunday evening, Mullins said: "He's a real nice type, a sharp individual. Hopefully he could be a name worth remembering."

Sign up to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate with 50% off for your first three months to get exclusive access to our unmissable stable tour series as the jumps season ramps up. You can find out more here.

Who does he face

Karniquet is a general 4-6 favourite to make a winning debut for Mullins, with bookmakers rating Downmexicoway his biggest danger at a general 15-8. The Henry De Bromhead-trained five-year-old stepped forward on a modest ninth in a bumper at Punchestown when going down by a head on his hurdling debut at Galway last month. 

Olympy De Cerisy is one of the more experienced runners in the line-up, having had four starts in bumpers and one hurdle outing for trainer Declan Queally. He bumped into Mullins runners Cantico and Ballygunner Castle earlier this year before failing to take advantage of what looked a good opportunity to get off the mark at Wexford last month, when a six-length second having been sent off the 1-4 favourite.

Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy combine with Buckaway Freddie, a four-year-old son of Flemensfirth who finished second in a Navan bumper on debut in February. He was last seen finishing down the field when sent off the 100-30 favourite at Leopardstown in March.

Crescent Moon represents Gavin Cromwell and came close to making a winning debut when going down by a length and a half in a bumper at Naas in April.

Spotlight verdict

There's a few interesting horses in here. Willie Mullins usually does extremely well with his French recruits and Karniquet has to be respected on his Irish debut. Buckaway Freddie, Olympy De Cerisy and Crescent Moon are interesting but Downmexicoway can gain compensation after going close on his hurdles debut at Galway last month.
Dave Stephens

Downmexicoway12:45 Tramore

View Racecard

Jky: Darragh O'Keeffe Tnr: Henry De Bromhead

Read these next:

Willie Mullins sends his first runner to Sedgefield - punting pointers for Tuesday

Inspections called at Hereford and Wetherby ahead of Wednesday fixtures 

The Coral Gold Cup meeting at Newbury - everything you need to know for the next major fixture of the jumps season 

Subscribe to Racing Post Members' Club Ultimate Monthly and get 50% off your first three months! 

Available to new subscribers purchasing Members' Club Ultimate Monthly using code MEMBERS24. First three payments will be charged at £24.98, subscription renews at full monthly price thereafter. To cancel please contact us at least seven days before subscription is due to renew.