Can Willie Mullins weave some more Cheltenham magic with Hubrisko?

Friday: 3.30 Cheltenham
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Registered as The Hyde Novices' Hurdle) | 4yo+ | 2m5f | ITV4/RTV

The champion trainers of Britain and Ireland clash in an intriguing Grade 2 novice hurdle and, while Willie Mullins might be the king of the Cheltenham Festival, he has an ordinary record at the track away from the four big days in March.

Since the start of 2012 Mullins has saddled only five winners from 37 runners, for a 14 per cent strike-rate, and a £1 bet on each lost £19.10.

However, 27 of those 37 runners came in the period from 2012 to 2015 and in recent years Mullins has been much more selective about who he runs at Cheltenham outside the festival. That has paid dividends with three wins from his last ten runners at the track, in keeping with Ireland’s improving record at this meeting more generally.

Two of Mullins’ three Cheltenham runners away from the festival this year have won: Stormy Ireland in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day and Dads Lad last month. It looks significant, therefore, that is his sole runner on Friday and Paul Townend is here for just one ride.

Hubrisko was last seen finishing third behind unbeaten stablemate Champ Kiely and last season’s Fred Winter winner Brazil in a Grade 3 at Tipperary last month. That looked a stronger race than this.

Paul Nicholls also has an exciting contender.

Nicholls has never won this race and had Gelino Bello finish second to Blazing Khal last season but he bids to go one better with , who won a maiden hurdle at Stratford by 27 lengths last month.

That was good enough for a Racing Post Rating of 132, which is 4lb higher than Hubrisko’s best, and he should be open to more improvement than that rival on just his second run.

Nigel Twiston-Davies won the race in 2007 with Razor Royale and saddles Newbury bumper winner . He could be the danger to the big two if improving for hurdles.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Can Twiston-Davies prospect prove a star?

Just two horses since the turn of the millennium have won this Grade 2 prize on their hurdling debut, so the well-regarded Weveallbeencaught will have to defy the stats to win for Nigel Twiston-Davies.

Twiston-Davies never shies away from a challenge though, as evidenced by one of those two winners since 2000 being Razor Royale.

Weveallbeencaught cost £210,000 at the sales in January – £140,000 less than fellow leading contender Hermes Allen – and confirmed the promise of his Irish point-to-point success with victory in a Newbury bumper in March.

Twiston-Davies said: “We’re very much looking forward to starting him over hurdles and he’s one we like. It looks a hot old race but he won his bumper nicely and has schooled well at home.”

Nigel Twiston-Davies: runs WeveallbeencaughtCredit: Edward Whitaker

Weveallbeencaught finished half a length in front of the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Collectors Item at Newbury and the runner-up has the benefit of some hurdling experience for this event having won over a shorter trip at Chepstow on his reappearance last month.

O’Neill, who won this race with Black Jack Ketchum in 2005, said: “We were delighted he was able to win over two miles at Chepstow. He jumped and travelled well that day but is going to be at his best over further. He definitely has an engine and he’s a lovely chaser in the making.”

Big-money buy Hermes Allen is another to have won on his hurdling debut, a wide-margin victory at Stratford last month, and takes a step up in grade on his second start.

Hermes Allen's trainer Paul Nicholls said: "He won well at Stratford last month, but that was an ordinary race and this is completely different. We'll know a lot more where we stand afterwards."

Peregrine Run was the first Irish-trained winner of this race in 2016 and Blazing Khal doubled the tally last year. Irish hopes lie with the Willie Mullins-trained Hubrisko and the Gordon Elliott-trained Music Drive.

What they say

Ben Pauling, trainer of Getaway Drumlee
He’s a massive price but I wouldn’t run him if I didn’t think he had some sort of chance. He did everything to get beat at Hereford. He was green in front and hung left, but still won by almost five lengths. He’s a six-year-old, so we can crack on with him. He’s in at the deep end but I believe he’s above average.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Hubrisko
He's in good form and likes nice ground, so hopefully conditions won't get any softer. We felt it looked like he needed more of a trip last time at Tipperary over two miles, so I'm hoping this will suit him.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Music Drive
He was a little behind the bridle last time at Cheltenham, so we're sticking cheekpieces on him and hopefully they should help. We're hoping for another good run.
Reporting by Jack Haynes

Friday's previews:

1.45 Cheltenham: Grey Diamond out to deliver more handicap success for Sam Thomas and Dai Walters

2.20 Cheltenham: 'He's got a great chance' - who can join a classy novice chase roll of honour?

2.55 Cheltenham: 'Class horse' Ballyandy is a rock-solid favourite - but is he beatable?

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