WILLIE MULLINS and Gordon Elliott are all set to lock horns in what promises to be a pulsating Group 1.
But the money is pouring in for the former in what will be a huge Cheltenham Festival trial.
Can Ricci land another Grade 1 with a hugely promising novice hurdler?PA
Mullins has entered five runners in Sunday’s Lawlor’s of Naas at the Irish track of the same name.
In-form Elliott, whose big wins over Christmas included Grade 1s with Irish Point, Caldwell Potter and Found A Fifty, has three currently in the novice hurdle.
Henry de Bromhead, who achieved the Holy Grail of Festival wins in 2021, has one, as does Thomas Mullins.
The 2m4f Grade 1 is worth more than £50,000 to the winner.
But to punters the race is big because it will signal where horses are likely to run in March.
Elliott’s hugely promising Bective Stud-owned Firefox is the 7-4 fav for Sunday.
He is as short as 5-1 for the Ballymore – with the intermediate trip appearing to suit more than the 2m Supreme, for which he’s 16-1.
But with Mullins’ Ile Atlantique on the drift, cash has flown in for the Rich Ricci-owned Chapeau De Soleil.
The six-year-old son of Soldier Of Fortune is into as short as 7-2 from 7-1.
Elliott’s other entry Croke Park is weak, out to 11-2 from 5s, while De Bromhead’s An Tobar, third behind Grade 1 scorer Farren Glory, is 8-1.
Mullins also runs Mystical Power, who boasts an amazing pedigree being by Galileo and out of Annie Power.
Owned by racing powerhouses Ricci, JP McManus and John Magnier, the five-year-old is around 8-1.
Mullins also has 10-1 Lecky Watson and 16-1 Readin Tommy Wrong (16s) while Elliott could saddle 25-1 Jigoro.
Thomas Mullins will almost certainly have the outsider of the bunch if he runs Fascile Mode, who’s currently 100-1.
FREE BETS – GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
Establishes time and monetary limits before playingOnly gambles with money they can afford to loseNever chases their lossesDoesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressedGamcare – www.gamcare.org.ukGamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org