Willie Mullins stable tour featuring stars like Al Boum Photo and Energumene
Fans can expect to see dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo a little more on the track this season.
Willie Mullins is plotting the best route back to Prestbury Park for the top chaser, the big race hero in 2019 and 2020.
Third behind Minella Indo when attempting the hat-trick in the most recent renewal, he had his usual warm-up run at Tramore.
Closutton maestro Mullins believes the nine-year-old may fare better on the back of a busier schedule.
“I definitely think we’ll take a different route," he said.
“Last year we got caught a little bit on the hop because of Covid and the horses having long breaks.
“I think it will benefit him now, at his age and everything, to have more runs and be more battle-hardened for the spring time.”
Al Boum Photo holds an entry for the Ladbrokes King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, while the John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase on December 5 is also under consideration.
“I’ll try and get him out as soon as I can, definitely by Christmas,” Mullins added.
“I’ll probably go to Tramore, but I’ll get a run or two into him before that, I think.”
While preparing his stars for the new National Hunt season, Mullins has been given plenty of encouragement by Ferny Hollow .
He has not raced since defeating top class Bob Olinger on his sole start over hurdles at Gowran Park 12 months ago.
Mullins said: “Ferny Hollow is working out of his skin. He worked this morning and is in great form.
“He looks so strong, and I’m very happy with him. When he’s ready, we’ll find a race for him.
“He pulled muscles or ligaments or something in his hind end the day he took on Bob Olinger in Gowran, and it’s just taken all this time to come right.
“There doesn’t seem to be any bother with him now. He’s jumping well and galloping well.”
Ferny Hollow took the 2020 Champion Bumper, a race in which Mullins saddled the one-two 12 months on with Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit .
The pair switch to hurdles this season, as the yard aims to produce another Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero, a race they have won on seven occasions.
The haul includes Appreciate It 's triumph in the most recent renewal.
“Kilcruit and Sir Gerhard both worked this morning, and I’m very happy with them,” Mullins said on Thursday.
“We know they jump well, because they’ve been schooled plenty.
“I’m not worried in the jumping stakes with either of them, and they’re in great form.”
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Klassical Dream was another to land the Cheltenham Festival opener and could meet unbeaten mare Honeysuckle in the Baroneracing.com Fairyhouse Winter Festival.
Stormy Ireland , Saldier and Burning Victory are also in the mix for the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, the highlight of the fixture.
Klassical Dream made an impressive return from 487 days off the track in the Champion Stayers Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival in April.
“It was eye-opening what he did in Punchestown," Mullins said.
"He’d been working well at home before that, but I found it hard to believe he could put in that sort of run first time out against Grade 1 horses.
“I spent a good bit of time debating whether to go jumping fences. But with my team at home, we were looking at his soundness record and we just felt it might be easier to keep him sound over hurdles.
“The Hatton’s Grace is a great starting point. The horses that win it nearly always go on to Christmas and Cheltenham and Punchestown, so it’s a great indicator.
“A lot will depend how he goes over the next few weeks, whether he’s ready for Fairyhouse.”
Stunning Ryanair Chase winner Allaho, five-time Grade 1 scorer Chacun Pour Soi and Energumene are expected to pick up plenty of the key prizes this term.
The latter was unbeaten in his novice season, but missed his Cheltenham Festival showdown with Shishkin due to lameness.
“He seems fine," Mullins said.
"He just did a canter this morning, because he actually had a stone bruise the other day, and he’ll probably work on Saturday.
“I’m looking forward to him coming out and building on what he showed us last year.”
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