Monday, April 18, 2016

Vautour enters Sandown equation as title battle reaches boiling point


"Everything is in the mix" for Willie Mullins as he prepares his final assault on a first British trainers' championship with Vautour entered in the Bet365 Oaksey Chase at Sandown on Saturday.
The easy Ryanair Chase winner could bid to make amends for an expensive fall at Aintree, where he was a long odds-on favourite.
Mullins has also entered Ballycasey, Sir Des Champs, Valseur Lido and Vroum Vroum Mag in the extended two-mile-six-furlong contest.
Defending champion Paul Nicholls - who led Mullins by £45,380 at the close of play on Monday - could call on Art Mauresque, former Champion Chase hero Dodging Bullets, Rocky Creek, Saphir Du Rheu and Wonderful Charm. Al Ferof, Bishops Road and Menorah are others among the 21 entered.
In the Bet365 Select Hurdle, Mullins and Nicholls have eight of the 17 entries. Shaneshill and Vroum Vroum Mag are the pick of the Mullins possibles, with Ptit Zig and Silsol heading up the Nicholls team.
However, they all might have to go some to beat The New One, who skipped the Scottish Champion Hurdle in favour of this.
Diamond King, Maximiser, Vaniteux and If In Doubt add further spice to a cracking renewal.
The feature Bet365 Celebration Chase, set to feature Sprinter Sacre and Un De Sceaux, has been reopened after only nine entries were received, while Nicholls and Mullins have entries in all the other races on what is the finale of the season in Britain.
Mullins said: "They're all just entries at the moment. I haven't had a chance to look through them yet, so I'll do that at some stage and see where we are."
Asked how likely Vautour was to make an appearance at Sandown, he added: "Everything is in the mix at the moment."
Mullins also confirmed his next runners in Britain would be at Perth on Wednesday. He also has Miss Me Now entered in a mares novices' hurdle at Taunton on the same afternoon, but she will not take up that engagement.

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