Willie Mullins off to a good start.
Mullins won the first four races, all Grade 1, on Thursday with Paul Townend aboard three of them.
They won the Novices' Chase with Impair et Passe who beat home Gidleigh Park 7/1 and Jango Baie.
Then they won the Juvenile Hurdle with Murcia with Live Conti second and Puturhandstogether third. Sad note to this race was that one of Mullins's other runners Willy de Houelle fell and had to be put down.
This was followed by Gaelic Warrior 11/4 getting the better of the gorgeous Grey Dawning under Patrick Mullins with our roughie The Real Whacker not too shabby in fourth. Spillane's Tower was scratched.
Then the Aintree Hurdle and shock horror he did it again – Constitution Hill that is and falling! Fortunately he's OK and may go to Punchestown but this left the coast clear for Townend to point Lossiemouth at the line and away they went!
Friday's card has also got 4 Grade 1 races starting with the Mildmay Novices' Chase with 8 runners. Handstands is going for a fourth consecutive win with Ben Jones riding for Ben Pauling and they are on 9/4. Dancing City is also fancied on 5/2 having won here over hurdles in 2024 and Mullins-Townend again. Caldwell Potter looked good at Cheltenham and is on 4/1 for Nicholls-Cobden.
The Novices' Hurdle had 10 starters with Romeo Coolio on 13/8 looking to have the best record – Elliott-Ewing. Salvator Mundi is the Mullins-Townend runner and is on 11/3. He had a long time off last year and presumably this was because of an injury so may still be getting back to top form. Tripoli Flyer on 3/1 is rather short as his jumping isn't always the most fluid but nevertheless he has won his last three races so can't be discounted.
The Melling Chase has only got 4 runners – maybe Jonbon has scared them all off. He won this last year and is in good form so is odds-on. Close to him in the market is the Mullins-Townend El Fabiolo on 3/1 and we always like Protektorat who was third in this race last year and is on 8/1.
The Sefton Novices' Hurdle has 15 runners headed by Mister Meggitt who won on debut here and is from the O'Neill yard with J J Jr riding and 7/2 the quote. Califet en Vol is 4/1 for Henderson – de Boinville, Battle Born Lad 9/2 and the not very consistent Argento Boy on 8/1 for Mullins-Townend.
