Willie Mullins Paul Townend Ireland Dublin Punchestown Leopardstown Racing Sport Willie Mullins Paul Townend Ireland Dublin Punchestown Leopardstown

Dublin Racing Festival: Willie Mullins mob-handed in Irish Arkle

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Willie Mullins boasts a typically strong hand in this year's renewal of the Goffs Irish Arkle at Leopardstown on Saturday.Un De Sceaux (2015), Douvan (2016) and Footpad (2018) all claimed this Grade One prize en route to winning the Arkle at Cheltenham the following month, while last season's Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Energumene (2021) also features on the roll of honour for the Mullins team.The champion trainer appears intent on adding to his tally this weekend, with Appreciate It joined by a quartet of stablemates in Dysart Dynamo, El Fabiolo, Saint Roi and Flame Bearer."They’ve all had good wins over fences, so it will be interesting to see them all," said Mullins."We were hoping to keep them apart, but they have to go for the prize-money.

They’re all owned by different people and we’ll be happy if one of them can win."Appreciate It, who memorably landed the 2021 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle by 24 lengths, has bolted up over fences at Punchestown and Naas and is the choice of stable jockey Paul Townend.Danny Mullins partners Dysart Dynamo, a 28-length winner over the course and distance on his chasing debut, while Daryl Jacob is aboard 19-length Fairyhouse scorer El Fabiolo for his retaining owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.The fact that the Mark Walsh-ridden Saint Roi won a Grade One at Leopardstown over Christmas and is widely available to back at double-figure odds is clear evidence of the strength in depth Mullins has at his disposal.

Flame Bearer, a dual Grade Two-winning hurdler and the mount of Brian Hayes, is an even bigger price.The horse bookmakers feel is most likely to upset the Mullins brigade is Joseph O’Brien’s Banbridge, who impressed in winning an Arkle trial at Cheltenham in November before

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