Saint Sam bids for successive Red Mills Chase wins at Gowran after the exciting Kitzbuhel steps up to Graded company

The Grade 2 Red Mills Chase (3.05) has attracted its smallest field since its inception in 1990 with three runners, but it still has last season's winner, the prolific Saint Sam, and the very useful Journey With Me.

Saint Sam put in a smart performance to beat Riviere D'Etel by eight and a half lengths 12 months ago. A winner of 11 of his 28 starts, he continues to operate at a high level for Willie Mullins, landing three of his last four races. Having scored over hurdles at Cork and Auteuil, he put in a career-best performance in the Clonmel Oil Chase in November when making all to beat Fil Dor by six and a half lengths.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Journey With Me landed a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse in April in good style before finishing sixth in a hot John Durkan on his return and third behind Protektorat at Windsor last month.

Mullins also saddles Classic Getaway, who finished six lengths behind Appreciate It in a Thurles Grade 2 last time, as he aims for a fifth successive win in the 2m4f contest.

Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "Saint Sam is quickly turning into a bit of a cult hero, stepping into the category of the Easy Game, Wicklow Brave kind of horse. He’s won 11 races now and this looks another great opportunity for him at his right trip on our local track. 

"The Red Mills Chase is a race we always like to try and keep a nice horse for and we're hoping he can add to his winning record. Classic Getaway has a big run in him and we’re hoping he can be competitive once again.”

Melon, Monalee, Our Duke and Rathgar Beau are some of the illustrious names on the race's roll of honour and the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle (1.55) boasts some similarly smart past winners such as Teahupoo, Un De Sceaux, Dunguib, Solwhit, Macs Joy and Hardy Eustace.

If there is one to join those names, it is likely the Mullins-trained Kitzbuhel, who was impressive on his stable debut at Punchestown in December when defeating Colonel Mustard by three and three-quarter lengths.

Kitzbuhel winning at Punchestown in December Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Patrick Mullins said: "We’re really looking forward to getting Kitzbuhel out again. He obviously put up what looked a very big performance first time out in Ireland in Punchestown. That looks really strong form and we’ll be hoping he can follow up here."

His stablemate Sir Gerhard hasn't captured the heights of his promising novice hurdle career but got back into the winner's enclosure in the Up The Yard Challenge last time, while the Gordon Elliott-trained Beacon Edge should also provide stern opposition.

Mullins added: "Obviously, Beacon Edge and Sir Gerhard set a decent standard, so if he can win well again here, we’ll know we have a right horse on our hands. Sir Gerhard did a very important job in the Up The Yard Challenge under a brilliant ride from Aimee Morrissey and hopefully, he can pick up more prize-money.”

Another interesting contender is Break My Soul on her stable debut for Ian Donoghue. She acquitted herself well for Nicky Henderson in competitive handicaps in Britain and is a promising recruit for the Meath yard.

"It's her first run for us and she was bought to go chasing," Donoghue said of the £70,000 purchase. "We'll try and get her some black type over hurdles before that. She has some nice form and Tour Ovalie franked the Newbury form at Taunton earlier this month. She's a fine, big mare who I can't wait to go over a fence with."

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