The Winners Enclosure writer Louis Moir has tipped two Willie Mullins horses as his ones to look out for at Cheltenham festival in March.
Blue Lord has six wins out of seven runs chasing, including an impressive success last time out at Leopardstown over Christmas, winning the Grade One Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase by 11 lengths and Lossiemouth has already won a grade two and three contest in her unbeaten career to date.
The latter of those wins for the four-year-old also came at Leopardstown, where she won the Grade Two Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle by seven and a half lengths. Moir says her ability is clear and the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham looks certain.
“Lossiemouth is a short price for the Triumph Hurdle (6/4) and she’s shown so much ability in her first two runs for Willie Mullins. She’s won her two races by a combined distance of 11 and a half lengths and looks certain for the Triumph Hurdle.
“The 4-year-old grey looks to have bundles of potential and has been yet another exciting French recruit for the Mullins yard. If she carries on improving the sky is the limit for her because she looks such a talented horse” Moir said.
Blue Lord v Energumene?
Blue Lord finished third in the Arkle at the festival last year in a contest won by the impressive Edwardstone but has gone three unbeaten since that day with wins at Punchestown, Clonmel and Leopardstown.
“Blue Lord wasn’t the best over hurdles, but since being sent chasing that has really made him into a top horse. He’s won six out of seven over the larger obstacles and it’ll be interesting to see where his trainer sends him at the festival as it seems there are two options – the Champion Chase or the Ryanair Chase.
“The latter may be the best option as it will be tough to beat stablemate and current odds-on favourite for the Champion Chase Energumene. He’s still only eight years of age and seems to be improving all the time so it will be fascinating to see how he fairs at the festival” Moir added.
Both horses are in top form and they are both sure to be contenders for victory in the races they enter at the festival, which gets underway on Tuesday 14th March.
JG Writes 