Willie Mullins triggers crash in Cheltenham Festival ante post market with horse who’s bred to be a champion

THERE’S a new name at the head of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle betting – and it’s no surprise given his breeding.

Willie Mullins’ Mystical Power preserved his unbeaten record with a comfortable success in the Moscow Flyer Novices’ Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

PA

Mystical Power is now the favourite for the Supreme at Cheltenham[/caption]

Times Newspapers Ltd

His mum Annie Power won the Champion Hurdle in 2016[/caption]

And when you consider his dad is the super sire Galileo and his mum is none other than Champion Hurdle winner Annie Power, the world is his oyster.

Record-breaker Galileo sadly died in 2021 at the age of 23, but not before he had cemented his place as one of the greatest stallions of all-time.

He sired hundreds of Group 1 winners on the Flat, while is also the father of top jumps horses like Celestial Halo and Supasundae.

Annie Power, meanwhile, won 15 races during her career, and famously made up for her final flight Mares’ Hurdle fall in 2015 with victory in the Champion 12 months later.

The -year-old Mystical Power is joint-owned by JP McManus and Rich Ricci – who owns Annie Power – and he is a perfect 3-3 in his career so far.

He started off at a pretty quiet level, winning on his debut at Ballinrobe in May before following up at Galway in the summer.

But Mullins clearly reckons he is a serious Supreme contender – and given the top trainer’s record in the Cheltenham Festival opener the bookies aren’t going to take any chances.

Mystical Power is now the general 4-1 favourite (from 16s) for the Supreme, replacing Jeriko Du Reponet at the head of the betting.

Assistant trainer David Casey said: “I was very impressed. He wouldn’t show that at home, so he seems to save his best for the track, which is a great trait.

“He looks like he went through that soft ground very well. He had his couple of runs during the spring and summer and we gave him a break after that.

“Mark Walsh rode him a couple of weeks ago and thought he’d improved hugely since he rode him at Galway. He showed that today.”

He added: “At the moment it looks like we don’t have to go beyond two miles. Mark said he rides a good deal quicker on the track than he does at home.

“I know the owner has another horse at the top of the Supreme market in Jeriko Du Reponet. They might want to split them up, so we’ll see, but until we have to I don’t see him going beyond this trip.

“He could possibly run at the Dublin Racing Festival. We’ll get him home and make a decision about that.”

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