MULLINS MONOPOLY FEAR AS RIVALS RUN SCARED

THOSE critics suggesting a lack of competition could signal the death of National hunt racing may well point to the Dublin racing Festival as ‘exhibit A’ this weekend. Leopardstown stages eight Grade One events and Willie Mullins has 32 of the 56 runners entered. With just three entries from Britain, trainers from this side of the Irish Sea have hardly embraced the fixture. Mullins has frightened off much of the home-grown talent too, especially in today’s Spring Juvenile hurdle where he saddles six of the eight runners, including JCB Triumph hurdle favourite Lossiemouth. Appreciate It leads a five-strong Mullins contingent in the Goffs Irish Arkle, while he runs odds-on favourite Galopin Des Champs in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup. Tomorrow, the champion trainer fields five of the six contestants in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase. Mullins’s Champion Chase aspirant Blue Lord is favourite for the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase, while stable stars State Man and Vauban provide strong competition for honeysuckle, who bids to land her fourth straight Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion hurdle. Facile Vega will look to make it a ‘great eight’ for Mullins in the final Grade One of the weekend, the Tattersalls Ireland Novice hurdle.