Key horses and questions as Patrick Mullins stays loyal to Mt Leinster in bumper

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Has Mullins made the right call with Mt Leinster?

No trainer has won Ireland's most prestigious bumper more than Willie Mullins and no jockey has won it more than his son Patrick, who has decided to stick with both his parents by riding Mt Leinster.

The Racing Post-sponsored Grade 1 has been claimed three times by the record-breaking amateur, who has sided with Mt Leinster, despite that horse – bred by the rider's mother Jackie Mullins – having been beaten at Fairyhouse by reopposing stablemate Golden Spread.

Mullins was aboard Mt Leinster that day as well but he has won on Golden Spread and also Colreevy, who returns to the Punchestown festival having won the meeting's Grade 3 bumper last year.

Golden Spread (centre) was too strong for Mt Leinster at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

"It was my choice to ride Mt Leinster," said Mullins. "He's a homebred horse and one I like a lot. I'd hate not to be on him if he won."

Reflecting on the Fairyhouse race, Mullins said: "Mt Leinster had a small break around Cheltenham time, so I think he's entitled to come on for his last run. If you stopped that race at the top of the home straight I think you'd have chosen to be on my lad, so I'm hoping he'll have come forward enough to turn the tables on Golden Spread.

"It certainly wasn't an easy choice and I might end up looking very silly. Golden Spread is a horse who is always behind the bridle and he's improving all the time. I don't know how much more he has in the locker."

On Colreevy, the third team member trying to give Willie Mullins a ninth win in the contest, Patrick Mullins added: "She hasn't had a straightforward season. I think she'll have improved for her run at Fairyhouse and if she could get placed that would be great."

Is December Second the one to break Kirby's duck?

North Yorkshire's Phil Kirby has yet to train a winner in Ireland but after 13 defeats, he tries to make 14 his lucky number with December Second, a striking winner on his recent Ayr introduction.

A Grade 1 bumper was not expected to be December Second's first big-race test given he was initially in training with Saeed Bin Suroor, but, after buying the Godolphin cast-off for just £7,000 in January, Kirby looks to have secured a bargain – not least as the five-year-old runs in his own colours.

December Second represents Phil Kirby at PunchestownCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Kirby said: "We had contemplated going straight to the big bumper at Aintree and although we didn't, we still chucked him in at the deep end by giving him his first start in the Ayr race. We went there hoping for a big run and were delighted with him. He was a bit green and will hopefully have come on for it.

"He's bred to be good and, on his breeding, you might question the trip for him, but he actually finished off the Ayr race really well. I think he has a realistic chance of a big run."

What the rest say

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Abacadabras
Abacadabras has always shown us a lot and was unlucky at Leopardstown in February, when he'd have run second but for running through the rails. He was a good fourth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and looks to have a very solid chance.

Noel Meade, trainer of Beacon Lodge
He's a very nice horse and ran very well at Leopardstown. He's in great form and we're very hopeful of a big run.

Paul Webber, trainer of House Island
We put out the feelers towards Derek O'Connor a few weeks ago and it's great to have him riding. He's improved since Newbury so putting him out in a field didn't seem the right thing to do. He's very much Flat-bred but is also a good, strapping horse and we think it's worth having a go.

Dermot McLoughlin, trainer of Santa Rossa
She's been working well since Aintree and we felt this was the right race to go for as she gets the 7lb sex allowance. She just ran with the choke out the whole way at Aintree and Finny Maguire knew it would be impossible for her to see it out. She ran very well, though, and if she bounces back to her Leopardstown form from February I'd like to think she'd go close.

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