Mighty Park's festival target confirmed as confirmations for day two of the Cheltenham Festival are released

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Willie Mullins lit the touch paper on an explosive start to the Cheltenham Festival by finalising the target of the highly touted Mighty Park.

He is set to run the five-year-old in the opening Skybet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday, taking on Old Park Star, El Cairos and most probably Talk The Talk in a clash of four of the most exciting young horses at the meeting.

There has been huge speculation over Mighty Park's big-race target since he bolted up by 38 lengths on his debut for the champion trainer in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse in January.

Analysis: Mighty Park's late switch is a surprise - but Willie Mullins could still hold the aces in the Turners

Mullins, speaking in his recent Racing Post festival stable tour, said about the JP McManus-owned son of Walk In The Park: "He has to be a hell of a horse to do what he did."

Mighty Park was a best-priced 5-1 for the two-mile Supreme and 7-2 for the Turners Novices' Hurdle over two miles five furlongs on Thursday morning but he was not confirmed for the longer race by the noon deadline and the Supreme is now his only remaining entry.

Paddy Power reacted to the news by slashing Mighty Park into 11-4 second favourite (from 9-2) for the Supreme, behind only Nicky Henderson's three-time hurdle winner Old Park Star at 9-4.

Talk The Talk: another contender for a fascinating SupremeCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Talk The Talk, who made it three from four by winning in Grade 1 company at the Dublin Racing Festival for Joseph O'Brien last month, is quoted at 4-1, with 5-1 on offer about El Cairos, whose trainer Gordon Elliott told the Post this week he "is hoping and praying that in 12 months' time we'll be back with a Champion Hurdle contender."

However Idaho Sun, who completed a hat-trick when landing the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree, was ruled out of the Supreme by Harry Fry, who reported he had "a hind limb lameness that requires further diagnosis."

Reacting to the Mighty Park decision, Paddy Power spokesman Paul Binfield said: “I suppose it was a bit surprising that he wasn’t confirmed for the Turners, especially as Mr Mullins often does like to keep his options open until having to make a decision.

"But he’s probably decided the five-year-old shows all the attributes required, including plenty of speed, for a Supreme and we’ve obviously cut him for the festival opener.”

Now Is The Hour (left) and Eoin Staples edge out Better Times Ahead in a Thyestes thriller

Now Is The Hour (left): Thyestes winner has been supplemented for the Brown AdvisoryCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

With Mighty Park out of the race, Talk The Talk, who O'Brien has said is more likely to run in the Supreme, is the 11-4 favourite for the Turners with Paddy Power, ahead of No Drama This End at 3-1.

Mullins also took out Doctor Steinberg, who was an impressive winner at the Dublin Racing Festival and appears set to run in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Their stablemate Majborough will face a maximum of 12 rivals when he seeks redemption on his return to the course next Wednesday.

He is a best-priced 5-6 for the BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase, having run away with the Dublin Chase in first-time cheekpieces at Leopardstown last month.

The Mullins-trained six-year-old, who won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2024, was sent off 1-2 favourite for the Arkle Chase 12 months ago, only to make several jumping mistakes and finish third.

Now Is The Hour was supplemented for the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase by trainer Gavin Cromwell and is another who will be seeking to do better at Cheltenham next week, having fallen two out in the National Hunt Chase last year when just two lengths behind the winner Haiti Couleurs.

He has improved with racing this season and won the Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park last time out.

The Mullins-trained Final Demand remains favourite for the Brown Advisory but Richard Johnson is mystified by the huge odds on offer about Kauto Star Novices' Chase runner-up Thomas Mor, who was available at 100-1 before confirmations.

The former champion jockey, who won the race on One Knight for Thomas Mor's joint-trainer Philip Hobbs in 2003, said at Wednesday night's Rawdon Cricket Club Cheltenham preview: "I don't understand why he is 100-1.

"He's a very straightforward horse who'll appreciate this stiff track. He'll definitely stay and you've got to stay in this race. He was second to Kitzbuhel at Kempton and he is 12-1, while the third, Wendigo, is 8-1 and Thomas Mor is 100-1.

"He is nine, which is old for a novice, but he had time off and if I had £2.50 to put on something in this it would go on him."

The ground continues to dry and the going on the cld Course, used on the first two days, was officially described as good to soft (from soft, good to soft in places) on Thursday.

Despite a wet winter and 223mm of rainfall since January 1, watering will begin on Friday on the New course, which was described as good to soft, good in places.

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Confirmations for the three Cheltenham Festival Grade 1s on Wednesday

BetMGM Queen Mother Champion Chase (4.00)

Brookie Anthony Honeyball
Captain Guinness Henry de Bromhead
Found A Fifty Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Il Etait Temps Willie Mullins, Ireland
Irish Panther Eddie & Patrick Harty, Ireland
Jonbon Nicky Henderson
L’Eau du Sud Dan Skelton
Libberty Hunter Evan Williams
Majborough Willie Mullins, Ireland
Quilixios Henry de Bromhead, Ireland
Saint Segal Jane Williams
Solness Joseph O’Brien, Ireland
Only By Night Gavin Cromwell, Ireland

Not confirmed: Calico, JPR One, Senecia, Thistle Ask
Already scratched: Marine Nationale

Latest odds
BetMGM: 4-5 Majborough, 4 L'Eau Du Sud, Il Etait Temps, 13-2 Quilixois, 10 Jonbon, 16 Irish Panther, 25 Only By Night, Solness, 33 Saint Segal, 40 Captain Guinness, Found A Fifty, 66 Libberty Hunter, 100 Brookie.

Turners Novices' Hurdle (1.20)

Act of Innocence Nicky Henderson
Ballyfad Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Bossman Jack Dan Skelton
Baron Noir Alan King
Came From Nowhere Jeremy Scott
Doujadou Rebecca Curtis
Fortune Timmy Chris Gordon
Free Spirit Willie Mullins, Ireland
Hurricane Pat Gary & Josh Moore
I'll Sort That Declan Queally, Ireland
It's Top Oliver Signy
Jalon d'Oudairies Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Johnny's Jury Jamie Snowden
King Rasko Grey Willie Mullins, Ireland
Klimt Madrik Toby Lawes
Koktail Brut Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Kripticjim Joe Tizzard
Laurets d'Estruval Willie Mullins, Ireland
Leader d'Allier Willie Mullins, Ireland
No Drama This End Paul Nicholls
Riskaway Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Road Exile Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Saint Baco Willie Mullins, Ireland
Shuttle Diplomacy Thomas Cooper, Ireland
Skylight Hustle Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Sober Willie Mullins, Ireland
Soldier Reeves Dan Skelton
Sortudo Willie Mullins, Ireland
Talk The Talk Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland
Taurus Bay Ben Pauling
Too Bossy For Us Willie Mullins, Ireland
Walks In June Henry de Bromhead, Ireland
Zeus Power Joseph Patrick O'Brien, Ireland

Latest odds
Paddy Power: 11-4 Talk The Talk, 3 No Drama This End, 5 King Rasko Grey, Skylight Hustle, 6 Ballyfad, 10 Act Of Innocence, 12 Sortudo, 14 I’ll Sort That, Sober, 16 bar.

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (2.00)

Argento Boy Willie Mullins, Ireland
Final Demand Willie Mullins, Ireland
Gold Dancer Willie Mullins, Ireland
Joystick Willie Mullins, Ireland
Kaid d’Authie Willie Mullins, Ireland
Kitzbuhel Willie Mullins, Ireland
Koktail Divin Henry de Bromhead, Ireland
Now Is The Hour Gavin Cromwell, Ireland
Ol Man Dingle Eoin Griffin, Ireland
Oscars Brother Connor King, Ireland
Predators Gold Willie Mullins, Ireland
Romeo Coolio Gordon Elliott, Ireland
Rushmount Jonathan Sweeney, Ireland
Salver Gary & Josh Moore
Thomas Mor Philip Hobbs & Johnson White
Wendigo Jamie Snowden
Western Fold Gordon Elliott, Ireland
The Big Westerner Henry de Bromhead, Ireland

Latest odds
Sky Bet: 10-3 Final Demand, 4 The Big Westerner, 5 Romeo Coolio, 6 Kaid D'Authie, Wendigo, 7 Western Fold, 8 Koktail Divin, Oscars Brother, 10 bar.