Racing:The emotional pull of Cheltenham at this time of year was written all over Willie Mullins's face after Pomme Tiepy kept her unbeaten record in Ireland intact with a fluent success at Navan yesterday.
Every instinct appears to be telling Mullins to avoid a festival trip, despite the ex-French mare winning her fourth race in a row in the Grade Two Keatings Oil Ten Up Novice Chase.
But what would probably be a straight-forward decision at any other time is a lot more difficult when an in-form mare puts eight lengths between herself and the sort of opposition that provoked some bookmakers to slash Pomme Tiepy's SunAlliance odds to 10 to 1.
As agonies of choice go, it's not particularly painful, and with another French-bred star in J'y Vole also in the yard, it's not a problem Mullins is unfamiliar with. But the temptation to strike while the iron is hot remains.
"The SunAlliance is sticking out for her, but it is a tough race and I would hate to have her break her heart in it," Mullins said. "She's only five and she's already done enough for the season even if she doesn't run again. Long-term, it might not be good for her.
"Having said that, she's a very relaxed mare, much more so than J'y Vole who's very highly strung. I will chat with the owners and talk to Ruby (Walsh) about where we will go next, but at the moment I don't know what we will do," he added.
The Cheltenham situation is a little clearer with J'y Vole, who is also quoted in betting for both the SunAlliance and the Arkle but for whom the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse looks the most likely option.
"It's two-and-a-half miles and a Grade One and to me it looks an obvious race for her," said Mullins, whose team appear to be in peak form. "Apart from Glencove Marina's injury, everything's going right and staying right."
Champion trainer Noel Meade would love to be in a similar position, but he drew another blank yesterday with Aitmatov managing only second to the impressive Kazal in the Boyne Hurdle.
The winner was slashed to as low as 16 to 1 for the Ladbrokes World Hurdle after winning by three-and-a-half lengths, and trainer Eoin Griffin admitted a clash with Inglis Drever & Co at Cheltenham is under "serious consideration".
"He jumped great and the cheek-pieces have sharpened him up. We even noticed that in his work."
There was nothing so straightforward in the Flyingbolt Novice Chase, as the Arkle candidate Clopf fell at the last when looking to have the Grade Two event in safe keeping, handing victory to the 50 to 1 outsider Maralan.
The winner's trainer, Oliver Brady, who has fought a brave battle with cancer in recent years, characteristically enjoyed the victory: "I can go wherever I want with this horse now and not worry about balloting. But this is great for me. I won't have to take any tablets tonight!"
Significantly, however, Clopf had done enough up to the last-fence mishap to provoke William Hill into cutting his Arkle odds to 10 to 1.
Kazal's jockey, Barry Geraghty, doubled up in dramatic style as the maiden hurdle favourite Brave Betsy overhauled the 20 to 1 shot Allez Les Bleu in the dying strides to win a by a short head.
But punters took another hit in the handicap chase when the 33 to 1 shot Mutineer secured his first win in over four years with a dogged neck defeat of another outsider, No Complications. Dessie Hughes's former Grade Two-winning hurdler paid 82 to 1 on the Tote.
Horner Woods was a market drifter in the bumper but still looked a smart prospect when proving three lengths too good for Citizen Vic and Limestone Cowboy under jockey Mark Fahey.
