Champion Chase at Down Royal for Kemboy
Willie Mullins is currently leaning towards letting Kemboy make his reappearance.
Even the seven-year-old made improvement last season, throughout the first half of this effort at Leopardstown with victories in the Clonmel Oil and Savills Chase.
Before defeating his Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning stablemate Al Boum Photo at Punchestown beneath the Ruby Walsh he also unseated his rider shortly after the very first fence at Prestbury Park, but bounced back.
Kemboy is a best-priced 6-1 favorite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup at the second attempt, also Mullins hopes to watch him return to activity in Northern Ireland on November 2.
He explained:Weve placed him in the race at Down Royal and we are going to see how hes working. Its so far so good and I am very satisfied with what hes doing at home.
At the moment were heading towards Down Royal. I think he will deal with the track up the floor and there. I primarily thought of the floor because of him. I understand the floor can become very delicate up there, however more often than not that the ground is great.
I didnt want to enter any other horses for the race and rush them to it. This fellow comes right a bit faster and its a nice race to target him at.
Plans are fluid for Al Boum Photo, although Mullins is pondering where and when to bring Klassical Dream back into action.
The latter won all his four starts a year – like the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham – and he is a clear favorite next 38, to provide a Champion Hurdle success to his trainer.
Al Boum Photo is good and I am really happy with the progress hes making, said Mullins.
I do not know where Ill start him. Until I start off him, Id like to get some good cut in the floor and real winter weather. Make a plan once the right opportunity arises and I only want to keep him training.
Klassical Fantasy may head to Down Royal (WKD Hurdle), however I would say that the Morgiana at Punchestown is much more probably where well start off him.
Hes been very good at home.
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