Over to you, Gaelic! Warrior the next Mullins missile to be launched at Clonmel

After Impaire Et Passe impressively added his name to the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle roll of honour which includes Douvan, Min and Vautour, it is over to Gaelic Warrior to demonstrate his Cheltenham credentials in the rescheduled Munster Hurdle (1.50) at Clonmel on Tuesday.

The 2m½f event was due to take place last Thursday but the course was deemed unraceable following days of heavy rain. Willie Mullins had the option of waiting for the 2m4f novice hurdle at Fairyhouse later in the week but he has chosen to stick to the original plan and hopes Gaelic Warrior will justify his skimpy odds.

Mullins said: "Gaelic Warrior did everything we could have asked of him at Tramore. He's been in good form since and this looked a nice race for him. He seems to be in very good form at home."

Gaelic Warrior faces six rivals at Clonmel and his chief threat comes from the same stable in the shape of Blue Sari, runner-up to Envoi Allen in the 2019 Champion Bumper before losing his way. He has a mark of 150 over fences but has not been seen since pulling up in a handicap chase at the Punchestown festival in April.

Mullins also runs the mare Braganza, while Charles Byrnes is represented by Limerick maiden hurdle winner Maidenstreetprince. The field is completed by Weseekhimhere, The Priests Leap and Topothelane.

Impaire Et Passe: impressed in the Moscow Flyer for the Willie Mullins team on SundayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gaelic Warrior was the standout name among the 45 entries for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury next month and the sponsors immediately chalked him up as their 7-2 favourite.

Mullins didn't give anything away on the prospect of a trip Britain and said: "Let's get Clonmel out of the way first and then we can make a plan for him."

Gaelic Warrior was just touched off by Brazil in last year's Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. Sent off one of the best-backed favourites of the entire festival at 13-8 despite never running for Mullins before, the French recruit touched a low of 1-5 in-running on Betfair before being reeled in late.

The five-year-old began this campaign with an 86-length victory at Tramore in early December and he is 6-1 with Betfair and Paddy Power for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at this year's festival. He is 20-1 with the same firms for the Supreme and a 16-1 shot for the Albert Bartlett.

Impaire Et Passe also has a few different options at Cheltenham following his smooth success at Punchestown on Sunday and Paddy Power cut him to 6-1 (from 8) for both the Supreme and Ballymore afterwards.

Reflecting on that display and what direction he might be going next, Mullins said: "Impaire Et Passe looked very good and it looks like he probably needs to go up in trip to be at his best.

"That said, there probably wasn't enough pace in the race on Sunday to show him off properly so a strongly run two miles wouldn't bother him either. He's doing things nicely and his jumping was very good on Sunday."

Ballymore Novices' Hurdle (March 15, Cheltenham)

Paddy Power: 5-2 Hermes Allen, 6 Champ Kiely, Impaire Et Passe, Gaelic Warrior, 15-2 Facile Vega, 12 Inthepocket, Grangeclare West, 14 Irish Point, 20 bar

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