Pravalaguna poised for Cheltenham outing

Mullins names strong Auteuil team

Pravalaguna could feature at next month’s Cheltenham Festival after an impressive win in the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase.

The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was the big favourite to win the two-mile feature in Naas on Saturday after December’s first win over fences at Limerick.

And, despite a brief scare five fences from home, jockey Paul Townend guided Pravalaguna 14 lengths ahead of second-placed Baie Des Iles with Teacher’s Pet in third. Looking ahead to Cheltenham, Mullins said: ‘It was a nice performance.

The mistake seemed to wake her up and she galloped on away at the end, so she can go two or two-and-a-half (miles). I’d have no trouble going an extra half mile with her again.

‘The Arkle is a possibility. I know the connections would like to have a runner at Cheltenham, no more than myself. She’s also in the JLT, so both are a possibility. ‘

We didn’t think she would survive her fall in Auteuil (in June 2017). She’s made a great recovery and has won her last couple of races now.’

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Willie Mullins Paul Townend Pravalaguna

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