Mullins again?

as expected Willie Mullins won two races yesterday - although a couple more were beaten- and looks set to increase that tally again today at Thurles. Valyssa Monterg (Ruby Walsh), unbeaten in 3 French bumpers last season, is reckoned to be one of the stable´s big hopes and makes his Irish debut in the maiden hurdle at 15.00 CET. He faces 20 opponents, but if he is anywhere near as good as rumoured, should win. Mullins can also take the opening beginners chase at 13.25 with another French Import As de Ferbet (Bryan Cooper) and also the bumper at 16.35 with Bellshill, ridden by son Paddy. Surprisingly Mullins has no runner in the main event, the listed chase over 2 3/4 miles at 13.55, which looks at the mercy of Hidden Cyclone (Shark Hanlon/ Andrew McNamara), who fell when favourite at the Punchestown Festival last time but had previously been placed in some top races and was runner-up both in Cheltenham´s Ryanair Chase and the Irish Champion Chase. He should be much too good for these opponents, of whom Foildubh (JP Ryan/ Paul Carberry) is probably the best.
The fields at today´s 3 U.K. meetings over jumps - Market Rasen, Wincanton and Chepstow are much smaller and also lacking in credible Cheltenham contenders. The best race is the handicap hurdle at 15.25 at Wincanton, in which local trainer Paul Nicholls saddles the ex-French The Brock Again (Sam Twiston-Davies), while Voix d´eau (Harry Fry/ Nick Scholfield) is another ex-French runner. We shall take a chance here on Roberto Pegasus (Alan King/ Jamie Moore), who is possibly the second string, but seems to be the runner best adapted tp the very soft ground. Two ex-German horses also catch our eye - Lochnagar (Venetia Williams/ Aidan Coleman) in the novice hurdle at 13.40 at Chepstow -a smart 3yo when trained by Waldemar Hickst - and Home Run (David Pipe/ Kieron Edgar) in the stayers handicap hurdle at 15.05 at Market Rasen.

Betting forecast Thurles:
1. Race: Aerlite Supreme - As De Ferbet - Drumlee
2. Race: Home Farm - Letter Of Credit - Some Tikket
3. Race: Drumacoo - Couleur France - Bosman Rule
4. Race: Mollyanna - Shuilamach - Oneforlill
5. Race: Deano - Notification - Street Party
6. Race: Western Promise - Ballinahow Oscar - Pocketfullapennies
7. Race: Attribution - Total Recall - High In The Clouds