The £125,000 pot for the Paddy Power Chase has had every trainer in the country salivating for months, but none apparently is quite as hungry as Willie Mullins who saddles a remarkable five runners in Ireland's most valuable handicap chase.
There was some idle speculation yesterday about the Carlow trainer doing a "Michael Dickinson Gold Cup", but as befits a 0140 handicap, surely punters should be looking for a horse with the appearance of being laid out for the race. Of the Mullins quintet, See Just There, looks to fit that bill.
Which is not to suggest that any of the 21 declared horses won't be at a peak for this, but if freshness counts for anything See Just There must surely count.
A trio of Thurles chase successes, culminating in the Molony Cup, wound up 1998 for the nine-year-old, and he wasn't seen again until Navan 16 days ago when he led close home in a three mile hurdle to beat Wee Annie with Fallow Trix back in third.
The reason for the long absence was a canon bone fracture incurred two days before Christmas last year when preparing for this race.
Navan was a hell of an effort on deep ground after a year off. Of course, that might have taken a lot out of the horse, but Mullins is happy with the horse's condition and off 10.1 he has a very attractive weight to add to his stamina and ability to handle the going.
"All this rain we've had is right up his street. Three miles at a slogging gallop will suit him down to the ground," an upbeat Mullins said yesterday.
The highest-weighted of the Mullins horses could provide the biggest danger, as Micko's Dream was one of the better Irish novices of last season, in which four wins included a defeat of the classy Rince Ri over three miles and placed efforts over two and a half miles at the Fairyhouse and Punchestown festivals. But it must be a worry that he hasn't seen a racecourse since.
The top-weight, Lanturn, has also warmed up for this with a hurdle success, but carrying 12 st to victory on this ground in such a competitive race would be a truly magnificent effort. Better value may lie elsewhere.
Inis Cara would come into calculations if his fencing stands up, but that's a pretty basic. Those looking for a real live outsider might get a good run from Magical Approach. The win bet merchants, though, could do a lot worse than See Just There and the season's leading rider, Barry Geraghty.
The other Grade Two race is the Future Champions Novice Hurdle (won last year by the ill-fated Joe Mac) and this time the JP McManus colours also look sure to be in the firing line courtesy of the highly-touted Youlneverwalkalone.
Winner of his bumper at this track last Christmas, the fiveyear-old has long been mentioned as a potential top-notcher and his easy hurdle debut win at Naas did nothing to dim the hopes. He will have to keep them going the hard way today against a field of winners and the newcomer Darialann, who has an 87 flat rating. But Youlneverwalkalone should probably be followed until he is beaten.
The other chase on the card features big names like Hill Society and the former champion chaser Klairon Davis, as well as the Aintree hero Jeffell and the Naas scorer Ollimar. On the evidence of his last performance, though, no horse is on better terms with himself than Puget Blue and Mouse Morris' horse could provide a bit of value.
The McManus colours, which were so prominent at this fixture last year, can also come home in front courtesy of Brigade Charge in the maiden hurdle, while the Pat Hughes-trained Beal Na Blath can stretch her wins to four in the long-distance handicap hurdle.
