Easywork seeks to conquer the Mullins mountain once again in first Grade 1 test

1.55 Leopardstown
Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTE1/RTV

Gordon Elliott has two and Willie Mullins has three but the betting suggests the number one of Elliott's two could make easy work of Mullins' three.

Indeed, the Elliott-trained Easywork has already this season defeated Mt Leinster, whose continued association with Paul Townend suggests he is regarded in Closutton as the leading hope among a triple Mullins challenge.

Within those opening two paragraphs are plenty of assumptions, all of which could be proved wrong. There is, however, no doubt Easywork looks an exciting prospect and goes into his first Grade 1 test as much the shortest-price for the Cheltenham Festival of all this contest's seven runners.

Easywork: impressed when winning by a wide margin on his latest startCredit: Patrick McCann

One reason for that is his defeat of Mt Leinster at Gowran in a late November maiden hurdle, a performance that was followed by a seriously impressive dismissal of another Mullins-trained novice, Unexcepted, upped to 2m4f at Limerick over Christmas.

Dropping in trip should not be a concern – stablemate Samcro also came down in distance when winning this race in 2018 – but bookmakers still see Easywork as more a horse for the Ballymore than the Supreme. That said, although he is joint-second favourite for Cheltenham's Wednesday opener with Thyme Hill, the red-hot market leader for that race is Envoi Allen, who shares domestic facilities with Easywork.

A case can be made for Mt Leinster reversing the Gowran form, given he lost all momentum when blundering two-out and was nibbling into Easywork's length-and-a-half advantage close home. The son of Beat Hollow also won well at Leopardstown last time, yet that victory was preceded by six consecutive defeats, which means he hardly returns to Dublin's racing home as a hype horse.

Still to be beaten is Asterion Forlonge, yet Townend has jumped off an animal he steered to a ten-length hurdling debut success. This represents a big rise in class for him, whereas Blue Sari, Mullins' third contender, needs to bounce back after flopping badly here in Grade 1 company last time. He has plenty of ability, though, as evidenced by his close second to Envoi Allen in the Champion Bumper.

What the stats say

They say Willie Mullins, pure and simple. Ireland's champion trainer has a sensational record in this Grade 1 novice hurdle, having netted six of the last seven runnings. The only other trainer to win the race in that period was Gordon Elliott, who saddles likely favourite Easywork.

What the trainers say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Asterion Forlonge, Blue Sari and Mt Leinster
Blue Sari was very disappointing over the course at Christmas but his recent homework suggests he's in very good form. Mt Leinster won his maiden in good style over the course and trip last month and will appreciate the nice ground. Asterion Forlonge was a wide-margin winner on his hurdling debut at Naas. He'll need longer trips in time but running here should point us in the right direction.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Conflated and Easywork
You couldn't help but be impressed with the way Easywork has been improving. He hit the line hard at Limerick, but his maiden hurdle win was over two miles and he should have no problem with the drop in trip.

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