Willie Mullins reveals his Dublin Racing Festival entries

Willie Mullins has revealed that he will be well represented at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Saturday, February 3 and Sunday, February 4.  

At a press morning at his Closutton base, the champion trainer indicated that he had made 49 entries for the seven Grade 1 races and the Grade 2 Coral Dublin Chase. Faugheen is set to make his return in the BHP Insurance Irish Champion Hurdle, a race he won two years ago, on Saturday, February 3. Mullins has made five entries for the €150,000 event, including Yorkhill and the recent Cheltenham third, Melon.

The first Grade 1 race at the Dublin Racing Festival is the Nathaniel Lacy & Partners Solicitors Novice Hurdle and Mullins has made 11 entries for this including the unbeaten Getabird, Real Steel and Carter McKay. The Grade 2 Coral Dublin Chase features eight Mullins-trained horses including Yorkhill, Min and Un De Sceaux. Footpad is one of three Mullins entries in the Frank Ward Solicitors Arkle Novice Chase and he could be joined in the €100,000 heat by both Demi Sang and Bon Papa.

There are four Grade 1 events on the second day of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on Sunday, February 4 with the Unibet Irish Gold Cup attracting no fewer than five Mullins-trained stars. Total Recall heads the quintet which is made up of Bachasson, Djakadam, Killultagh Vic and Acapella Bourgeois.

Course and distance winner Mr Adjudicator and runaway Fairyhouse scorer Stormy Ireland could carry Mullins’ hopes in the Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle while Getabird, Real Steel, Sharjah and Whiskey Sour head the champion trainer’s team of eight in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle. Mullins has made seven entries for the Grade 1 Flogas Novice Chase including Invitation Only, Koshari, Livelovelaugh and Rathvinden.