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Willie Mullins column: Weekend preview

By Willie Mullins

17:09 · SUN March 13, 2022

Ahead of a huge week at the Cheltenham Festival, our star columnist guides us through his Sunday team.

Limerick

13:20 Instit

Instit⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: -

8/13

This is a very nice mare. She had one run and one win in France – on ground like this – everything is right for her. As long as she adapts to Irish hurdles, which she appears to do at home, she could give Jack Foley a good start to the day.

13:55 Mi Lighthouse

Mi Lighthouse⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J B Foley| T: W P Mullins| OR: -| C

9/2

She has stamina on both sides of her pedigree, her sire being a Leger winner and the dam related to staying winners over jumps. I think there’ll be a big improvement for going up in trip. I think she’ll love the ground too. She has every chance.

16:15 El Barra

El Barra⁶³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: J B Foley⁽⁵⁾| T: W P Mullins| OR: 143

1/4

His form this year should be good enough with a clear round to win this. He’ll take all the beating.

17:25 Hunters Yarn

Hunters Yarn¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: -| BF| D

8/13

We want to keep him as a novice over hurdles next season, so he switches to a bumper here. He’s been working well all week and is another who I think will love the ground. Hopefully he can keep our good run in these races going.

Willie Mullins recalls riding Macs Friendly to victory in the 1984 National Hunt Chase

Naas

14:20 Deploy The Getaway

Deploy The Getaway²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 136

2/1

He has to turn around form with Slip Of The Tongue from Punchestown but I felt not everything went his way there. He could reverse it here with the weights in his favour as we’re four pounds better off.

16:40 Class Conti

Class Conti^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-12| J: S F O'Keeffe| T: W P Mullins| OR: 144

25/1

This fellow disappointed in the Thyestes and it’s going to be tough for him to turn it around but what can we do? I just hope Sean O’Keeffe gets a tune out of him

16:40 Franco De Port

Franco De Port⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Cooper| T: W P Mullins| OR: 158

9/2

He carries top weight which is going to be very hard to do. Once again the proper winter ground will suit him but he needs to show the sort of form that put him back in second place in the Thyestes Chase. It’s not ideal having this type of weight but he has an each-way chance.

16:40 Stones And Roses

Stones And Roses²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: B Hayes| T: W P Mullins| OR: 134| BF| D

14/1

Has a great chance off this weight on this ground. He stays the trip, Brian Hayes has won on him before and I love having horses off this sort of weight on going like this.