2016 Cheltenham Festival: Mulholland hungry for more success

“The Ultima Handicap Chase had been the target ever since his run in the Hennessy. He finished seventh that day, but he had hit a couple of fences on the way round and that told us that he was nicely handicapped.

“The Festival is our World Cup or Olympic Games. It comes and goes very quickly and if anyone wants to have winner anywhere, it’s Cheltenham.”

Sweet on the chances of Southfield Royale

Mulholland has assembled a nice team of young horses ahead of the four-day showpiece next month, led by Grade 2 scorers Southfield Royale and Shantou Village.

“Southfield Royale is one I am looking forward to in the National Hunt Chase,” Mulholland added. “He looks to have a good chance. All has been well with him since Kempton, I just decided against running him on heavy ground at Wetherby.

“The plan was to run, but what is the point when the ground is like that? We had already won a Grade Two by 13 lengths and then he was runner-up in a Grade One, so he doesn’t have anything to prove.

“We want to win the four-miler and there is a good chance you will leave races behind running on ground like that five weeks before Cheltenham. I wouldn’t have any concerns about going up to four miles. All he does is gallop.”

Southfield Royale is currently 8/1 third-favourite with Coral for the National Hunt Chase on Tuesday, March 15th.

Albert Bartlett likely target for Shantou Village

“The plan is definitely for Shantou Village to go to Cheltenham,” Mulholland continued. “If it happened to be heavy ground, I would not go but I can’t see that happening.

“I was happy with him on Festival Trials Day (when runner-up to Yanworth in the Grade Two Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle). He was having his first run back from a break on ground we weren’t sure about and, as it turned out, he hated it.

“All his rivals had the benefit of a recent run but he was still 10 lengths clear of the third Champers On Ice who is a good horse in his own right. The form is there for everyone to see.

“Can he improve? Yes, he will improve for getting that run under his belt and for better ground. We won’t be making any decisions about which novice hurdle he goes for until nearer the time.

“Stamina is not going to be a problem if we decide to go up in trip and, to be honest, the Albert Bartlett probably looks the weaker race at the moment.”

Shantou Village is 6/1 second-favoruite with Coral for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle on Friday, March 18th.

Rock on course for Arkle

Mulholland also revealed plans for recent recruit Baltimore Rock and some of the more-established members of his team.

“I would say Fox Norton is unlikely to run, but Baltimore Rock will probably go for the Arkle,” Mulholland added. “He won his first start over fences and then was second to a good horse at Chepstow recently.

The winner’s form ties in with some very good horses and we were trying to give him 11lb on ground softer than ideal.

“The Young Master goes for the race The Druids Nephew won last year, the Ultima Handicap Chase, and I think he is capable of running a huge race in that.

Coral make Baltimore Rock a 50/1 chance for the Arkle, with The Young Master 16/1 joint second-favourite to scoop the Ultima.

Minella Present has “great chance” in Grand Annual

“Minella Present looks to have a great chance in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase ,” Mulholland added.

“He had a very good run when second to Keel Haul at the November meeting and we put him away after with this race in mind. He is in great order.

“We look to have a nice team of horses and hopefully everything goes smoothly between now and The Festival.”

Minella Present is currently 14/1 second-favourite for the Grand Annual.

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