Willie Mullins to unleash Cheltenham Festival favourite
"He's fit, he's ready to rock and to be honest if he gets beat we'll be disappointed"
Willie Mullins is set to unleash Supreme Novices Hurdle favourite Salvator Mundi in the Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown this weekend.
The five-year-old finished second to Sir Gino in a listed hurdle race in France in 2023, with Joe Donnelly purchasing both horses afterwards. Sir Gino is the odds-on favourite for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, while Salvator Mundi heads the market for the Supreme, which will take place 40 minutes before the Arkle.
Salvator Mundi was just headed in the closing stages by Sir Gino and was thrown in at the deep end on his first outing for Mullins, finishing sixth behind stablemate Majborough in the Triumph.
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Making all, he bolted up at Tipperary in May without ever coming off the bridle and big things are expected of him this term, with Mullins describing him as "a real nice type" during a recent stable tour.
Patrick Mullins told Sporting Life ahead of the weekend: "He's fit, he's ready to rock and to be honest if he gets beat we'll be disappointed.
"If he doesn't perform to his best, Kel Histoire should be there to pick up the pieces."
He will face a maximum of five rivals in Sunday's Grade 2 contest, which Mullins is aiming to win for a fourth consecutive year after victories with Mystical Power, Impaire Et Passe and Dysart Dynamo. The Closutton maestro has also won the race with Vautour, Douvan and Min, who all went on to win the Supreme at Cheltenham.
Salvator Mundi will be partnered by Paul Townend for his seasonal reappearance, while Mark Walsh will be on his stablemate and second favourite Kel Histoire, who won on hurdles debut at Cork last month.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained Sky Lord, Gordon Elliott's Relieved Of Duties, Declan Queally's Artic Lane and Mr Rango for John Harney complete the field.
Paddy Power have installed Salvator Mundi as the 4/6 favourite, while Kel Histoire is 5/2. Sky Lord is 13/2, Relieved Of Duties is 16/1, 40 Artic Lane is 40s and Mr Rango is 100/1.
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