The enigmatic Yorkhill is one of 3 Athletes for Willie Mullins at the Guinness Kerry National at Listowel.
The champion trainer asserted renewals of this esteemed three-mile handicap with Euro Leader and Bothar Na at 2005 and 2006, however, has not managed to add to his tally because in a race that carries a entire prize fund of 200,000 euro.
A double winner at the Cheltenham Festival, Yorkhill looked a superstar in the building after winning the 2017 JLT Novices’ Chase, but has emerged a shadow of his former self over the past few years.
On the other hand, the nine-year-old claimed his first triumph since that second Festival victory bids to follow up beneath top-weight in Listowel on Wednesday at the palms of Paul Townend also when landing a conditions chase at the Galway Festival last month.
Mullins’ assistant David Casey stated:”You would prefer to not own top-weight, of course, but he looks in good form.
“Going back left-handed is going to suit him better than racing straight in Galway, although he won.
“We’ve been pleased with him because, so fingers crossed he will run well”
The Closutton handler additionally saddles Some Neck (David Mullins) – 3 seasons supporting Yorkhill when runner-up at Galway – along with the six-time winner Pravalaguna (Danny Mullins).
Casey added:”Many Neck conducted nicely behind Yorkhill at Galway, and going an additional couple of furlongs should suit him. We are also placing a set of blinkers on him to try and eke out a little more improvement.
“Pravalaguna ran nicely in the Galway Plate (finished seventh) before winning more hurdles in Cork. The trip should fit her well, and she needs to have a fantastic likelihood of getting at the cash when she works to her Galway Plate kind.
“They all have opportunities, but it’s obviously a competitive race.”
The champion coach’s great rival Gordon Elliott also offers a powerful hand, using A Toi Phil (Jack Kennedy), Barra (Hugh Morgan), Ravenhill (Denis O’Regan) and also Swingbridge (Andrew Ring) all featuring at an 18-strong field.
Elliott, who claimed consecutive renewals of those Kerry National together using Wrath Of Titans and Potters Point in 2016 and 2017, stated:”It’s been a excellent race for us. There’s great prize-money, and it is an unbelievable race – it is among those handicap chases that you wish to win each year.
“It’s definitely going to be a hard race. If the floor is fine ravenhill, who had been fifth in the Galway Plate, must have a terrific chance.
“Barra looked like she was planning to acquire the Midlands National and fell at the past.
“With A Toi Phil, the trip will probably be a concern.”
The market is headed from the Enda Bolger-trained and JP McManus-owned Movewiththetimes.
Trained in Britain by Paul Nicholls, a month the eight-year-old dropped when joint-favourite to the Galway Plate on his first start to Bolger, however, bounced back to win against a novices chase after his first victory in nearly 3 decades.
Bolger stated:”He’s a great racing weight and he is going into the race in great form.
“It was very important for him personally and important for us that he’s his head facing Killarney – hopefully it will enhance his confidence.
“This really is a 200,000 euro raceand everybody will be champing at the bit – however as long as they do not get too much rain, hopefully he’ll run well and get in the frame.”
Joseph O’Brien’s the Tom Mullins-trained Oscar Knight All The Answers and Drumcliff also carries the McManus silks from Aidan Howard’s yard.
The race’s final winner was that the Ferdy Murphy’s Macs Supreme in 2000, and there are just two raiders this season in David Pipe’s Dell’ Arca and Neil Mulholland’s Shantou Village – fourth and fifth in the renewal of last year.
Additional hopefuls contain Dark Scorpion, James Motherway’s Na Trachtalai Abu along with the Eric duo of Internal Transport and Henry de Bromhead’s set of Valseur Lido and also Poker Party – although the latter is not guaranteed a series, as initial reserve.
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