RACING:WILLIE MULLINS continues his preparations for next month's French Champion Hurdle when he runs three horses, including the Ruby Walsh-ridden Thousand Stars, at Auteuil tomorrow.
The Mullins trio, which also comprises Dorset Square (Davy Condon) and Final Approach (David Casey,) will be joined in the Grade Two Prix La Barka by the Paul Gilligan-trained Bertie’s Dream (Timmy Murphy.)
Tomorrow’s €175,000 event is the main trial for next month’s Grande Course des Haies d’Auteuil which Willie Mullins memorably won in back-to-back years with Nobody Told Me and Rule Supreme (2003-04.)
Ireland’s champion trainer has indicated that his star mare Quevega is also on course for the French Champion Hurdle after her victories at Cheltenham and Punchestown but won’t have a warm-up back in her native France.
There will also be Irish interest in the Grade Three Prix De Longchamp on the same card when Edward O’Grady’s Sailor’s Warn takes on 10 opponents.
Irish interest in Britain today will centre on Oor Jock who lines up for the Listed Sandy Lane Stakes at Haydock. Ted Durcan teams up with the Tracey Collins-trained runner who won at Naas last summer and wound up his juvenile campaign behind Dubai Prince at Leopardstown.
Today’s home action at Navan includes a competitive looking finale in the mile-and-a-quarter conditions race that can fall to Dermot Weld’s A Word Apart.
A smart juvenile, A Word Apart returned to action at Gowran when running a good race behind Adilapour whose stable companion, Creekside, is among this afternoon’s opposition.
