Supreme favourite Romeo Coolio bids to enhance Cheltenham credentials - with Belloccio the pick of Mullins' five

The Royal Bond has been dominated by training superpowers Willie Mullins and Gordon Elliott over the last decade, with the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale the sole outlier when getting up late to win the race in 2020. That trend is set to continue here as the pair field six of the eight runners. 

Mullins is the most successful trainer in the race's rich history with nine wins, but Elliott has won three of the last five, including with Farren Glory last year.

The Elliott-trained Romeo Coolio is already ante-post favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at 8-1 following a silky-smooth hurdles bow at Down Royal where it wasn't who he beat, but more the manner of victory which was easy on the eye. He looked a natural over his hurdles and put 18 lengths between himself and the runner-up Ivybrook at the line. He was 2-13 so an easy win was expected, but it was still hard not to be blown away by the performance. 

Although it was not a strong heat the fourth home, Boston Rover, who was beaten more than 23 lengths at 100-1, was second in a handicap hurdle at Thurles on his next start. 

Belloccio, the winner of the Copper Horse Handicap at Royal Ascot, is number one of the five Mullins runners on jockey bookings with Paul Townend aboard. He won his maiden hurdle at Punchestown with any amount in hand, but his jumping did leave a bit to be desired and he will need to brush up on that department of his game if he is to win this. 

Gaucher might outrun his odds for Mullins, but Romeo Coolio is expected to enhance his Supreme credentials in style.

What they say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Romeo Coolio
We've always had this race in mind for Romeo Coolio. He was a good bumper horse last season and he made a smooth transition to hurdling at Down Royal, albeit in a race he was entitled to win. That said, he couldn't have done any more than he did there and I was delighted with him. He's been in good form since and worked well at the Curragh during the week. He's got a lot of speed.

Patrick Mullins, rider of Sea Of Sands
He was very impressive when he won at Listowel but that was obviously much, much softer ground and he is happier on that sort of a surface. He ran reasonably well in the Cesarewitch, but he will need to jump slicker here than he did at Listowel. I'd like to think with the ability he has he should be in the fight for some of the prize-money.

Paul Gilligan, trainer of Zeeband
His novice status runs out after this weekend so we may as well give it a go. I'm not expecting him to win, but I do expect him to run well.

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