Monkfish chasing second Festival gold for Mullins team

Last year’s Albert Bartlett winner tackles Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase.

When Willie Mullins said last year that Monkfish could be a Gold Cup horse one day, it definitely got people’s attention.

He was speaking after his chestnut had won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and 12 months on Monkfish is back at Cheltenham, this time over fences and with his reputation further heightened after three faultless efforts over the bigger obstacles.

Next year it could be for the Gold Cup itself, but for now it is the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, where anything other than victory will be a huge disappointment against five rivals.

“It’s been so far so good with Monkfish, and I’m just hoping he can come back and do the same at Cheltenham,” Mullins said of Rich Ricci’s seven-year-old.

“He had a gruelling race there last year and I just hope he doesn’t remember that. Sometimes horses can, but he’s done everything right this season and done it well within his scope. He’s one that I’m really looking forward to at Cheltenham.

“I didn’t see him the first few mornings (schooling) like I did some of the other others over the years like Footpad and what have you, but anyone who rides him always says it (he’s a natural).

“You have so much ‘bonnet’ out in front of you, as Ruby (Walsh) describes it – he must be beautiful for a jockey to ride.”

Sporting John looked a smart prospect for chasing, and while beaten at odds-on first time out, he came good in very testing ground to claim Grade One honours in the Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown.

That performance suggested stamina is his strong suit, a view shared by big-race jockey Richard Johnson.

Sporting John got the better of Shan Blue at Sandown
Sporting John got the better of Shan Blue at Sandown (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

He said of the Philip Hobbs-trained six-year-old: “He’s obviously a very good horse and I was impressed with him at Sandown. I schooled him at Exeter 10 days or so ago and again at Philip’s, he’s in very good form.

“He showed at Sandown he’s very good and hopefully there’s more to come after just two runs over fences. He’s lightly raced and hopefully still improving. The way he finished his race off at Sandown, you’d be surprised if he didn’t stay three miles well.”

Sporting John’s conqueror first time out was Fiddleronetheroof, who is one of two representatives for the Colin Tizzard team along with The Big Breakaway.

Assistant trainer Joe Tizzard said of the latter: “He hasn’t done an awful lot wrong and has won a chase around Cheltenham, finished second in a Grade One over fences and is a horse that is maturing over time. I am sure his time will come and he is going to win or be competitive in these big races.”

He added of Fiddlerontheroof: “He has been second four times on the bounce in great company and stepping him up to three miles last time showed us he certainly stays. He ran in three point to points, won his bumper and is a horse we think will be better the further he goes. He has some high-class form.

“I don’t think he or The Big Breakaway are particularly ground dependent.”

The Big Breakaway is a part of a two-pronged attack from Colin Tizzard
The Big Breakaway is a part of a two-pronged attack from Colin Tizzard (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore team up with Eklat De Rire, who is unbeaten in two starts over fences, most recently in a Grade Three at Naas.

De Bromhead said: “He’s two from two so far and is lovely. He’s done nothing wrong this year, and he won his Grade Three the other day very impressively.

“He jumps his fences really well, touch wood, and we’ll find out how good he is there and see if we can give Monkfish a race. (Monkfish) has obviously been super impressive, but our lad has been very good as well, so we’ll see on the day.”

The line-up is completed by Dickie Diver, from Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows yard.

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