Monday 30 March 2015 09:37, UK
Willie Mullins has raised the possibility of running two of his stable stars in the Doom Bar Aintree Hurdle on Thursday week.
Ireland's champion trainer intends to enter Champion Hurdle one-two-three Faugheen, Arctic Fire and Hurricane Fly in the two-and-a-half-mile Grade One, along with the brilliant mare Annie Power, who suffered a heartbreaking final flight fall at the Cheltenham Festival.
Mullins intends to send a strong team to the Merseyside track, with Champagne Fever a likely candidate for the Melling Chase after missing out on a run at Cheltenham when he suffered a bite from a stable companion in transit.
"I will have a bigger team than normal. The mare (Babylone Des Motte) that won the bumper at Sandown will go for the mares' bumper," said the Closutton handler.
"We'll enter four in the Aintree Hurdle - Faugheen, Arctic Fire, Hurricane Fly and Annie Power - and we may run two.
"Champagne Fever will go for the Melling, Boston Bob might go for that or he could for the Bowl. On His Own could go for the Bowl as well.
"Ballycasey looks like our only runner in the National, and I'll have to see about the novice chases and hurdles."
