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Cheltenham Festival 2021: Willie Mullins runs through his team of runners including 3-1 Gold Cup favourite Al Boum Photo

, Cheltenham Festival 2021: Willie Mullins runs through his team of runners including 3-1 Gold Cup favourite Al Boum Photo

THE Cheltenham Festival is just three week away, and top trainer Willie Mullins is set to bring over a powerful team once again.

The seven-time leading trainer at the Festival has provided the latest on his runners, including dual Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo and hot Champion Chase favourite Chacun Pour Soi.

Al Boum Photo, Energumene and Monkfish are among Mullins’ Cheltenham hopefuls

Appreciate It – Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (6-4f)

“I had him down as a stayer, but the fact that he has a turn of foot is good too. He owes me – he destroyed a nice pair of my sheepskin gloves on Saturday evening!

“His performances so far have been very good. What he did at Christmas was terrific, I’m just wondering if he was as good in himself at the Dublin Racing Festival.

“I thought he was in trouble turning for home, yet when Ballyadam came to him he got the job done which is the sign of a good horse. He has been in good form since.”

Energumene – Arkle Trophy (5-2)

“We are looking forward to running him. We always knew he could gallop, but to do what he has done so far over fences is really exciting.

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“I don’t think it’s essential that he leads, he goes his own gallop. But we wouldn’t be hanging back with him.

“He stays well and we know he has plenty of speed.”

Sharjah – Champion Hurdle (12-1)

“I’m happy with him. Maybe the race last time came too soon for him after Christmas.

“Patrick (Mullins) has his own way of riding him, he likes to sit and wait. The better the ground the better the chance he will have.

“If he can just adjust his tactics a little bit this year, that could make the difference.”

Saldier – Champion Hurdle (40-1)

“He is one I entered in the County Hurdle, but his aim all year has been the Champion Hurdle.

“That’s where I would like to see him end up and that is where Rich Ricci would like to see him end up, too. So we are pressing every button we can to get him there.”

Concertista – Mares’ Hurdle (11-10f)

“She is in great form. She handled the track fantastic last year and we are looking forward to running her.

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“We changed a good few things last year just before she won at Cheltenham.

“We just changed how we worked her and we have done that from the very start this year, so we have probably just worked out the right way to train her.”

Concertista is hot favourite for the Mares’ Hurdle

Lord Royal – National Hunt Chase (16-1)

“He’d been a little disappointing every time since he won his maiden hurdle.

“I told Paul to hold on to him for as long as he could last time and I was delighted with how he stayed on from the back of the last.

“Whoever rides him will probably get the same instructions. I think he needs to be held on to.

“He is a beautiful jumper and I think he wants good ground. He is a horse I think is going to win a big race somewhere.”

Gaillard Du Mesnil – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (5-2f)

“He hasn’t done much wrong. We ran him over 2m6f last time because we didn’t want to drop him back in trip.

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“I prefer the 2m5f trip (of the Ballymore) and I thik the pace will suit us. He’s a horse I like alot and I think he is improving all the time.

“When push came to shove last time Gaillard Du Mesnil showed what he was made of.”

Monkfish – Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (8-11f)

“So far, so good. I’m just hoping he can do the same in Cheltenham.

“He had a grueller of a race there last time – I hope he doesn’t remember that. Sometimes horses can, they come back to a place and think ‘I don’t like this’.

“But he has done everything right this year. He is good at home at the moment, touch wood. He is one I’m really looking forward to.”

Chacun Pour Soi – Champion Chase (4-6f)

“He is in great form. It was frustrating last year (when he was scratched late), but in Cheltenham every 30-35 minutes it’s a new race and you don’t have time to think about it.

“He had his troubles early on his career but everything has settled down now. He goes up the gallop, does his work and comes home. He is very straightforward.

“We want to see what he can do at Cheltenham. Can he be as good as he looks at Leopardstown? He is one we are really hoping can bring his A-game.”

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, Cheltenham Festival 2021: Willie Mullins runs through his team of runners including 3-1 Gold Cup favourite Al Boum Photo

Monkfish is unbeaten over fences

Kilcruit – Champion Bumper (2-1f)

“I was stunned when I saw Patrick coming there and never moving on him.

“I don’t train him much, he is very light-framed. He has been very good since Leopardstown.

“He is a natural athlete. He floored me. I thought he would make a nice horse when we bought him, but I never thought he would be a favourite for a Cheltenham bumper.”

Melon – Ryanair Chase (10-1)

“He didn’t enjoy being held up in the Irish Gold Cup. He certainly won’t be doing that again.

“He enjoyed being ridden positively in the Marsh last year and we might think about doing something similar in the Ryanair. He always seems to reserve his best for Cheltenham so hopefully that’s the case again this year.”

Allaho – Ryanair Chase (4-1f)

“I always thought he was going to be an out-and-out three-mile staying chaser the way he gallops and jumps.

“But he may just have a high cruising speed and be one for a shorter distance. The shorter 2m5f Ryanair trip will probably suit him.”

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Min – Ryanair Chase (5-1)

“Nothing has shown up (since his Leopardstown flop). He missed one down the back, he just took off too soon.

“Patrick said to me that he wasn’t as happy over that shorter trip, maybe the gallop was too fast for him.

“Once things weren’t happening for him he was happy to pull up. He won the Ryanair last year and I have no doubt he will be a force to be reckoned with in the race again.”

Kemboy – Stayers’ Hurdle (12-1)

“No decision has been made yet if he will run over hurdles, but we think it is a race which could suit him. His record over fences at Cheltenham is not great.

“We have to look at every option and I need to chat with connections. But we know he stays and hurdles are no problem to him.

“He seems fine after the Irish Gold Cup, we are very happy with him.”

French Aseel – Triumph Hurdle (8-1)

“He hasn’t run for us yet. He settled in here well. I took the view that I didn’t want to run him at the Dublin Racing Festival as he’d only just arrived here.

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“He started his work about three weeks ago doing little bits and he is now up to full work. I’m very happy with everything that he is doing.

“He was very fit the day he won on debut and jumped very well, so I’m just going to take that all on trust and try and get him cherry ripe for the day.”

Al Boum Photo – Cheltenham Gold Cup (3-1f)

“He worked well last week and he has another big piece of work coming up this week. He’s is very uncomplicated and easy to train.

“He’s got a funny back history, but here he is a double Gold Cup winner going for his third. We are very privileged to have him.

“We think he is in a good position. Any time Paul (Townend) has ridden him in his work he’s been happy, and I’ve been happy with what I’ve seen as well. We don’t have any negatives at this point.

“It would be extraordinary if he could do it again. I’d given up the dream of winning one a few years ago, yet here we are on the brink of a horse winning three.”

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