Willie Mullins hails exceptional novice chase team as strongest he's ever had

Willie Mullins believes his current crop of novice chasers could be the best he has ever had, with exceptional talents Monkfish and Energumene spearheading the champion trainer's powerful team for this weekend's Dublin Racing Festival.

The high-class novices, who are 8-11 and 5-6 respectively with Paddy Power for their upcoming Grade 1 assignments, have shone brightly this season alongside stablemates Colreevy and Franco De Port, both of whom have won at the highest level over fences.

Mullins, successful in 14 of the 45 races run at the Dublin Racing Festival since its inception in 2018, also has useful performers Unexcepted, Asterion Forlonge and Janidil in the same sphere.

Asked if he believes his current group of novice chasers is the strongest team across all distances he has ever had, Mullins said: "I think so. It's funny how it goes, but we have a right team of novice chasers. It's all about keeping them sound and getting them wherever they're going to go."

He added of his Patrick Ward and Company Solicitors Irish Arkle contenders: "Energumene looks a natural chaser. He easily went back to two miles [at Naas] so I think he has to take his chance here. I'd like plenty of juice in the ground for him, he's a big unit.

"We'll have Franco De Port in the race as well after his win at Christmas. Was he a lucky winner? We don't know. They went off at a ferocious gallop that day.

"Unexcepted is a very good horse over two miles as well with a very forward style of running. It'll be interesting to see if he turns up. Janidil, in the same ownership, might go for the longer race [the Flogas Novice Chase]."

Asterion Forlonge, who won a Grade 1 novice hurdle at last year's meeting but blotted his copybook over fences on his last two outings, has the option of joining Monkfish in the Flogas.

Mullins said: "I know he [Asterion Forlonge] jumps a little bit right but we might just try different tactics and see what happens. I hope to have his confidence back. We probably should be keeping him right-handed but sometimes if you don't ask the question you don't get the answer."

Monkfish: set to lock horns again with Latest Exhibition this weekendCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

He added: "Monkfish is the obvious one. He's looked a real natural and all the rain will help him too. The way he jumps, I don't think two miles and five [furlongs] will be an issue for him. Latest Exhibition and he have a little history together, there's never too much between them."

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The Closutton handler has won the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup on ten occasions and could be double-handed this time around with Savills Chase second and third Kemboy and Melon. Paddy Power Chase winner Castlebawn West, who was also entered for the €200,000 prize, is out for the rest of the season after splitting a pastern and requiring five screws in surgery.

"They probably didn't help each other but I think we'll probably change tactics with Melon," said Mullins.

"Up to now he's been wearing cheekpieces and we've been putting go-faster stripes on him trying to be more competitive over two miles and two and a half. I think if we don't force him he'll settle off the pace and use his ability over the last two furlongs."

He added: "Kemboy seemed to be back to himself. He likes Leopardstown but the only worry is the rain, they got a huge amount of it over the weekend and there's broken weather up to Sunday."

Chacun Pour Soi and Min, the first two from last year's Ladbrokes Dublin Chase at the meeting, are on course to lock horns again on the opening day of the festival, while three Mullins-trained challengers, Sharjah, Saldier and Saint Roi, will bid to upset Honeysuckle in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.

"I'm hoping Saldier will run a lot better than he did at Christmas when he seemed to need the run," said Mullins.

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"Saint Roi was a little disappointing then but I think he'll improve on that. Sharjah doesn't need to improve but I just hope he doesn't do what he did in the race last year, making a mistake at the first hurdle down the back that threw him completely."

Christmas scorers Gaillard Du Mesnil and Stattler appear likely to run in the Grade 1 Nathaniel Lacy and Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle, while Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Appreciate It is reportedly "in great shape" for the Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle.

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