The enigmatic Yorkhill is one of 3 runners for Willie Mullins at the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.
The winner trainer claimed renewals of this disability at 2005 and 2006 with Euro Leader and Bothar Na, but has not managed to add in a race that carries a total prize fund of 200,000 euro since to his tally.
A winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Yorkhill looked a celebrity in the making after winning the 2017 JLT Novices’ Chase, but has emerged a shadow of his former self within the past couple of years.
The nine-year-old maintained his first victory since that Festival triumph when landing a conditions pursuit at the Galway Festival also bids to follow up on Wednesday at the palms of Paul Townend.
Mullins’ assistant David Casey stated:”You would like not to have top-weight, obviously, but he seems in great form.
“Going back is going to suit him better than racing straight in Galway, although he won.
“We’ve been happy with him since, so fingers crossed he will run well”
The Closutton handler additionally saddles Some Neck (David Mullins) – 3 crosses supporting Yorkhill when runner-up at Galway – along with the six-time winner Pravalaguna (Danny Mullins).
Casey added:”Some Neck conducted well behind Yorkhill at Galway, and moving an extra couple of furlongs should match him. We are also placing a pair of blinkers on him for the first time to try and eke out a bit more improvement.
“Pravalaguna conducted nicely in the Galway Plate (completed seventh) before winning more obstructions in Cork. The trip should suit her well, and she needs to have a fantastic likelihood of getting in the money, if she works to her Galway Plate form.
“They all have opportunities, but it’s obviously a competitive race.”
The champion coach’s great rival Gordon Elliott also has a strong hand, using A Toi Phil (Jack Kennedy), Barra (Hugh Morgan), Ravenhill (Denis O’Regan) along with Swingbridge (Andrew Ring) all featuring in an 18-strong area.
Elliott, who claimed consecutive renewals of those Kerry National using Wrath Of Titans along with Potters Point in 2016 and 2017, said:”It has been a wonderful race for us. There’s prize-money that is great, and it’s an unbelievable race – it is among those handicap chases that you want to win.
“It is definitely going to be a tough race. Ravenhill, who was fifth at the Galway Plate, should have a opportunity if the floor is fine.
“Barra looked like she was going to acquire against the Midlands National and dropped at the past.
“With A Toi Phil, the trip would most likely be a concern.”
The Enda Bolger-trained and JP McManus-owned Movewiththetimes heads the Sector.
Trained in Britain from Paul Nicholls, the eight-year-old dropped when joint-favourite for the Galway Plate in his first start to Bolger, however, bounced back to win some novices chase at Killarney – his first victory in almost 3 decades.
Bolger stated:”He has a wonderful racing weight and he’s going into the race in great form.
“It was essential for him and important for us that he got his head in front at Killarney – it will boost his confidence.
“This is really a 200,000 euro raceand everybody will soon be champing at the bit – however so long as they do not get too much rain, hopefully he’ll run well and get into the frame.”
Joseph O’Brien’s the Tom Mullins-trained Oscar Knight All The Answers and Drumcliff also carries the McManus silks in Aidan Howard’s yard.
The race’s last British-trained winner was the Ferdy Murphy’s Macs Supreme in 2000, also there are just two raiders at David Pipe’s Dell’ Arca and Neil Mulholland’s Shantou Village – fifth and fourth in the past year’s renewal.
Additional hopefuls contain Henry Bromhead’s set of Poker Party along with Valseur Lido, James Motherway’s Na Trachtalai Abu and the Eric McNamara-trained duo of Internal Transfer and Black Scorpion – though the latter is not yet ensured a run, as reserve.
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