SICILIAN SECRET is the new 4 to 1 favourite to give Willie Mullins a seventh victory in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at Cheltenham next week after an impressive work-out after racing at Leopardstown yesterday evening.

Ridden by Patrick Mullins, Sicilian Secret shot clear of Quel Esprit (Ruby Walsh) at the end of a piece of work that had William Hill cutting the horse to 4 to 1 from 7 to 1.

Mullins Jnr was conceding some weight to his colleagues but his father was still impressed with the display.

“Patrick had a light saddle to try and make the weights fairly level, but I’m happy with the horse. He did what I thought he’d do which I’m delighted with because the day he won here I was slightly disappointed,” said Mullins.

“He didn’t shine quite like I thought he would. But maybe he was green and needed that run,” Mullins added.

Jockey arrangements have yet to be fully sorted for the bumper, although Katie Walsh has been confirmed as the rider of the Downpatrick winner, Morning Supreme.

Another Mullins star to work was the RSA favourite Cooldine who schooled with five others under Ruby Walsh, who blamed himself for a mistake at the last fence.

“Ruby said he wanted to pop it but the horse came up. He says the horse got him out of trouble and I was happy with the way he jumped the rest,” said Mullins.

Jayo has been ruled out of the Arkle after jumping poorly yesterday, but Mullins added that Kempes will go in the Supreme while Persian City has a choice of the Ballymore or the Albert Bartlett. Both of those horses finished behind Fiveforthree in a separate gallop.

Two former Champion Hurdle winners were also on show last evening with Hardy Eustace working with a stable companion, as did Sublimity.

The latter’s trainer, Rob Hennessy, said: “He worked over a mile and a half and I was very pleased with him.”

Noel Meade worked Jered but left another of his three Champion Hurdle contenders, Harchibald, at home.

Meade said: “He’s in great shape, but he’s like a spring and we want to mind him.”