WILLIE MULLINS is to launch a full-powered assault on this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival.
Big gun Chacun Pour Soi will lead the troops in a huge clash against stablemate Min in Saturday’s Grade 1 Dublin Chase.
And the Irish maestro is just glad to have managed an injury-free run with the current Champion Chase favourite.
The trainer said: “We managed to get a run into Chacun Pour Soi before Christmas and that paid off at Leopardstown.
“He’s in great shape and we’re hopeful he’ll be himself again.
“He had to miss Cheltenham last year as he got a stone bruise on the day of the race but we’ve not had one problem this season.
“He was fragile early on but once we’ve got him going he’s been fine. I’d hope he can improve again here.
“I think we’ll let Min take his chance too. This has been the plan for him since the John Durkan.”
Stable stars Kemboy and Melon are on course to do battle in Sunday’s feature, the Irish Gold Cup.
Although Mullins sounded the weather warning for Kemboy, the shorter of the pair at 3-1 with sponsors Paddy Power.
He said: “They both ran well against each other at Christmas although they probably didn’t help each other there.
“We’ll probably change tactics with Melon. We’ve been putting cheekpieces on, go faster stripes and unfortunately the horse took off with him.
“I think we can get him to settle off the pace and use his ability.
“The only worry is the rain with Kemboy. They got a huge amount over the weekend.
“The real nice ground suits him more than any other horse. I think Melon will get through it alright, though.”
Mullins is likely to run three in Saturday’s Irish Champion Hurdle, including Saint Roi, now on a recovery mission.
The trainer said: “I’m very happy with all three of Saint Roi, Saldier and Sharjah.
“I’m hoping Saldier runs better than he did at Christmas, he seemed to need it.
“Saint Roi was disappointing, I’m not sure if it was our tactics or whether he just wasn’t right on the day. I think he’ll improve from that though.
“We were hoping for a much better performance but some horses just have their bad days. We found nothing wrong with him.
“I was surprised by Sharjah last time, with how well he travelled, but it was great to see. I just hope he jumps better than he did in this last year.”
Energenume sits second to Shiskin in the betting for the Arkle at Cheltenham and is on course for the Irish equivalent on Saturday.
Mullins said: “He just looks a natural chaser and did well dropped in trip last time, I think he has to take his chance here.
“He jumps so well so I thought why waste it over further. This is a bigger test though.”
Rising stars Monkfish and Asterion Forlonge could meet in Sunday’s Flogas Novice Chase.
Appreciate It will put his unbeaten hurdles record on the line in the two-mile Grade 1 Novice Hurdle while Triumph hope French Aseel will have his first start for the yard.
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