Patrick Mullins on the Clonmel Oil Chase: 'We’re trying to have him ready ahead of the others' Niall Tierney spoke with Patrick Mullins, assistant trainer to Willie Mullins, ahead of Thursday’s Clonmel Oil Chase, to get an update on leading contender Il Etait Temps and top mare Spindleberry who reappears in the Listed Mares’ Chase. He also got an update on a few of Willie Mullins’ stars and their plans for the season. Clonmel Oil Chase, 2.57 Clonmel, Thursday Il Etait Temps We have sent some very good horses down for the Clonmel Oil Chase in the past, including the likes of Douvan and Champagne Fever, so it’s a good starting point. The rain has come at just the right time for Il Etait Temps. He’s been coming along a bit faster than the rest of the team because we’re aiming him at the Tingle Creek. That’s quite early in the season, so we’re trying to have him ready ahead of the others. Listed Mares’ Chase, 2.22 Clonmel, Thursday Spindleberry Spindleberry has definitely kept surprising us. It’s a race where the conditions suit her well. She will come on for the run, but it’s a good opportunity for her to gain experience. The prize money is good, and the conditions suit. We’re working back from the Mares’ Chase in Cheltenham, but who’s to say she won’t go even higher? Betfair Chase The Betfair Chase is too much of a grueller for our horses at this stage of the season. Our horses aren’t fully ready, and it’s always a tough race. We prefer to concentrate on the back end of the season rather than trying to have them ready this early. Kopek Des Bordes & Final Demand Kopek Des Bordes and Final Demand have both done very well over the summer and have schooled brilliantly during the week. We’re really looking forward to getting them out. They will be entered in the coming weeks, but we are delighted with the pair of them Upcoming Punchestown Festival The horses are largely where we normally have them. Galopin Des Champs is a little behind and is a slight doubt for the John Durkan, but as he’s an older horse and not generally a winner in that race, it’s not the end of the world if he misses it. For the John Durkan, we have the likes of Fact To File and Gaelic Warrior, among many others; they’re all on track for the race. Galopin Des champs is the only one that’s a slight doubt. State Man, the idea will be to go back there with him (Morgiana Hurdle). His campaign maps itself out; there’s no real reason to change that. We’ll be locked and loaded there in Punchestown in all the beginner chases, maiden hurdles, and bumpers. King George Update Both Gaelic Warrior and Fact To File have the King George on their radar. Gaelic Warrior’s form at Leopardstown seems slightly below his best, but he’s never run over three miles there, which could be a factor. As for Fact To File, we will see what JP McManus wants to do - whether to take on Galopin Des Champs again at Christmas or to target the King George. The first runs of the season will dictate plans, but both horses remain strong contenders.
