Mullins can maintain upward graph with Gee Rex a value Lincoln contender

Emmet Mullins.

Michael Verney

March 20 2021 02:30 AM

The curtain has barely come down at the Cheltenham Festival but attention quickly switches to the level with the Curragh hosting the first day of the Irish Flat season tomorrow.

Punters are in the dark at the best of times, but no more so than at the outset of a season where there is little to work off and race fitness is taken in hope rather than expectation.

Cheltenham can still offer some clues, though, with the exploits of the brilliant Emmet Mullins shining on a massive stage as he readied The Shunter to collect a cool £100,000 bonus with Festival success.

Much like his prolific uncle Willie, the younger Mullins has no hesitation in mixing his talents between jumping and the Flat with Gee Rex an intriguing candidate in the Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire (4.10).

Racing off a lowly weight under 5lb apprentice Mikey Sheehy, the five-year-old has plenty of ability having scored four times last season (including over course and distance in June) when trained by Joseph O’Brien.

Fitness is also no problem as the son of Requinto ran as recently as two weeks ago when second in a decent maiden hurdle at Leopardstown and he looks to have a decent future as a dual-purpose type.

That can start with a good showing in this €90,000 contest and he represents each-way value, while Michael Mulvany is another to keep an eye given that his string are usually quite forward at this time of the year.

The Meath trainer won this lucrative prize three years ago and saddles a pair of contenders this time around with Comfort Line rating a live outsider under Dylan Browne McMonagle’s 5lb claim after the unexposed grey blew some cobwebs away at Dundalk last month.

Jump fans still have plenty to get their teeth stuck into this weekend with tomorrow’s Randox Ulster National (3.47) taking centre stage at Downpatrick as the last two winners return – Space Cadet and Amaulino (2019) – tackle the €50,000 pot again.

Both face an uphill climb lumping 11-10 around for 3m4f, though, and preference is for Mon Lino with Paul Nolan’s nine-year-old having little fear of the extreme trip.

The JP McManus-owned runner has been kept over hurdles recently and raced just once over fences since his fine third in last year’s Leinster National with Simon Torrens’ 5lbs allowance another big plus.

The Grade Three Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase (4.0) heads affairs at Thurles today with Cheltenham stars like Rachael Blackmore and Jack Kennedy involved, but this may be set up for Dylan Robinson aboard Zarkareva.

Henry de Bromhead’s mare was a Grade Three winner at Punchestown in October – she also had subsequent Festival winner Heaven Help Us behind her when winning a Sligo beginners’ chase the previous month – before a disappointing fourth at Cheltenham the next month.

The daughter of Authorized has been off the track since then, but this looks a winnable opportunity for the unexposed five-year-old.