Not everybody might be thrilled by Willie Mullins's decision to run Be My Royal in today's £30,000 novice handicap, but it does allow us one last glimpse of one of the most intriguing contenders for Cheltenham's Bonusprint Stayers' Hurdle.
The seven-year-old is unbeaten in three starts over flights and Mullins has decided to bypass the SunAlliance in favour of a crack at Limestone Lad and the other big boys in the Stayers'.
Paddy Power rate Be My Royal's festival chance at 16 to 1, but a smooth performance today could see that price slashed, especially since Be My Royal proved himself on the Cheltenham track last year when third to Joe Cullen in the bumper.
Others might be less intrigued, considering Be My Royal's presence leaves all but one of the opposition out of the handicap proper, but Mullins said yesterday: "Be My Royal hasn't run for a while and this race should be a good pipeopener."
Even allowing for the fact that Be My Royal won't be quite at a peak until next month, and that he will have to hump 12st over the testing three-mile trip, it will still be something of a disappointment if Garrett Cotter's mount doesn't win.
Mullins will also be an intent viewer of the bumper, where the well-touted Bassett Tiger finally gets to make his debut. The horse is already a 10 to 1 chance for the Weatherbys Champion Bumper, but there will probably be some wary punters around, considering how the other well-touted Mullins newcomers Ultimate Accolade and Hedgehunter got turned over last weekend.
It will be a disappointment if Bassett Tiger, a son of Warcraft, follows suit, but he will have to be pretty decent to overcome the Pat Hughes-trained Move Over.
Other Cheltenham interest will centre on Sheltering, the ante-post favourite for the Foxhunters. Edward O'Grady's runner must give weight away today but he proved again at Leopardstown last time he is the top hunter in the country and a smooth winning performance will be expected.
Things are unlikely to be as straightforward in the Sutherland River Handicap Hurdle but there still looks to be a worthwhile bet in the race all the same.
Bob What followed a fine run at Naas behind Risk Accessor with a relatively disappointing effort at Leopardstown when a well-beaten fifth to Big-And-Bold. That was on very bad ground, however, which was hardly ideal for a horse who broke his maiden on fast ground over today's course and distance last September. Paddy Mullins has secured Charlie Swan for the mount and Bob What looks to have an eyecatching racing weight on ground that is officially forecast to be just "yielding".
