Champion Bumper hope to be Willie Mullins' first British runner since travel ban

Willie Mullins is set to have a runner at Market Rasen on Saturday who will be the first horse trained in Ireland to run in Britain since the travel ban between the nations was lifted last week.

The Mullins-trained Grangee is among seven declared for the Listed mares' bumper at Market Rasen and also holds particular significance as the first Irish runner in Britain since the United Kingdom left the European Union.

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Concerns over the proliferation of a new strain of Covid-19 led to Ireland imposing a ban on all travel from Britain last month, a measure that prevented foreign challengers competing at the major meetings over the festive period.

With tough lockdowns still in force in both nations, the question of Irish runners competing at the Cheltenham Festival has also been thrown into the spotlight, with jump racing's annual showpiece now just under nine weeks away.

Mullins took the same bumper 12 months ago with Panic Attack – who is now trained by David Pipe – and looks to have another strong challenger in Grangee following her winning debut in a Galway bumper in October.

Paul Townend made the journey to Market Rasen last season but Nico de Boinville will be in the saddle on this occasion for what will be his third ride for Ireland's champion trainer.

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Patrick Mullins, jockey and assistant trainer to his father, said: "Grangee is very petite and we were worried about the soft ground at Galway, which is a tough track, but she handled it very well.

"She surprised us with how impressive she was in a strongly run race, so Willie nominated her for the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival afterwards.

"We thought this race at Market Rasen would be a nice stepping stone on the way. Market Rasen is very different to Galway, but we have no reason to think that it won't suit her."

Market Rasen: stages racing in front of the ITV cameras on SaturdayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

The bumper will be one of three races at Market Rasen broadcast live on ITV4 on Saturday, with the MansionBet Handicap Hurdle and MansionBet's Bet 10 Get 20 Hurdle also included in the coverage.

Mullins added: "Panic Attack was very good in the race last year and these Listed mares' bumpers are very valuable for owners and breeders looking to get some black type.

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"We're always on the lookout for these races in England and everyone who was at Market Rasen last year was very complimentary about how it all went."

Among opponents is the Pam Sly-trained Eileendover, who has won her two bumpers so far by a combined total of 45 lengths.

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