Briar Hill to follow Mikael’s footsteps with Navan/Cheltenham double

Willie Mullins has won three out of the last five Navan Novice Hurdles and he can add another victory with Briar Hill.

The exciting five-year-old has won all three of his starts under rules, including the Champion Bumper at last season’s Cheltenham Festival.

On that occasion he came seven lengths of a quality field which included the subsequent Grade Two hurdle winner The Liquidator amongst others.

The son of Shantou was put away after his Prestbury Park success but received the following praise from his jockey after making a successful reappeatance on his hurdling debut at Wexford in November.

Ruby Walsh said: “He jumped super and travelled really well, he did what he had to do.

“It didn’t feel like we went that quick but then again maybe that’s because of the class he is. He is a Cheltenham winner.”

Bet on Briar Hill to win the Neptune at 12/1

The former point-to-point winner was originally bought by owner Graham Wylie for £100,000 at the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales last year.

His dam was an unraced sister to Boston Bob, who Mullins trained to win this race in 2011.

Also in the colours of Wylie, Boston Bob was subsequently second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Sent off at 6/5, the favourite only found one horse too good for him and Briars Hill is currently 10/1 to go one place better.

Bet on Briar Hill to win the Albert Bartlett at 10/1

However most of Mullins’ winners of the Navan Novice Hurdle have taken part in the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in March.

Mikael D’Haguenet won the Navan contest en-route to winning the Neptune at Cheltenham, whilst last year’s winner Pont Alexandre was second three months after winning at Navan.