Can Sir Gerhard continue the winning run for favourites at Leopardstown?

Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) | 2m | 5yo+ | RTE1/ITV4/RTV

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Willie Mullins enjoyed a dream start to the Dublin Racing Festival on Saturday and, in Sir Gerhard, the champion trainer has major claims of adding to his Grade 1 haul for the weekend.

Last season's Champion Bumper winner made a seamless switch to hurdling at Leopardstown over Christmas, winning his maiden in impressive fashion.

He is already a general 5-1 chance for Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle glory despite racing and winning just once over hurdles, but victory here would go some way to strengthening his Cheltenham claims and Mullins has a remarkable record in this race.

The champion trainer has won eight of the last nine runnings, including the last three, with subsequent Supreme winner Appreciate It scoring a year ago.

Along with Sir Gerhard, Mullins is represented by El Fabiolo, a horse he showered with praise after he won his maiden hurdle at Tramore, Grade 1-placed Farout and Royal Bond winner Statuaire.

The biggest threat on paper appears to be Three Stripe Life. Had Gordon Elliott's charge not made a mess of the third-last in the Future Champions Novice Hurdle here over Christmas, he may well have beaten stablemate Mighty Potter. He should give Sir Gerhard something to think about, but it's hard to see the short-priced favourite getting beaten.

Options open for 'freshened up' My Mate Mozzie

It speaks volumes about the depth of the two-mile novice hurdle division that there is a Champion Hurdle prospect in this race, and he isn't even in the first three in the market.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of My Mate Mozzie, is contemplating rolling the dice in the Champion rather than the Supreme, but before that he is hopeful the six-year-old can give a good account in this Grade 1.

My Mate Mozzie: freshened up by trainer Gavin CromwellCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

My Mate Mozzie arrives here fresher than most having been given a break by Cromwell after a narrow defeat in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle when an untidy jump at the last cost him victory.

Cromwell said: “He's been freshened up for this and didn't run over Christmas. He's fit and well but it's obviously a very good race. He's in good nick and hopefully he can give a good account.

“He's in the Champion Hurdle and could have a better chance of making the frame in a Champion Hurdle as the Supreme is looking like being the race of the Cheltenham Festival at this stage. We're leaving our options open.”

What they say

Lorna Fowler, trainer of Colonel Mustard
It’s massively exciting. He’s been second in a Grade 1 before, but it takes some doing to be in with a chance at Leopardstown. We're happy with him.

Paul Townend, rider of Sir Gerhard
This race will give us a lot of pointers for Cheltenham. He won a maiden hurdle here at Christmas and is one of our leading novices. Hopefully he can go and win and we'll know a bit more and decide what way we will go in March.

Oliver McKiernan, trainer of Gatsby Grey
He worked okay on the Curragh the other day but would never be a great work horse. Hopefully the softer ground will bring out the best in him. He could be out of his depth a bit, but the softer the ground the better. The form of the Limerick race wouldn’t do much for you, but he did it nicely.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Three Stripe Life
He's going to be a chaser further down the road. He's had only two runs over hurdles and will come on a lot for last time when he didn't get the clearest run. He's in good form and won't be far away. It's a hot race but he has a good each-way chance.

Read a selection of Sunday previews . . .

3.00 Leopardstown: 'It's exciting and nerve-racking' – history awaits Honeysuckle in Irish Champion Hurdle

1.20 Leopardstown: just how good is Galopin Des Champs? Potential superstar set for tough test

1.50 Leopardstown: Paul Townend puts faith in 'electric' Chacun Pour Soi to shine in Dublin Chase

Big-race analysis: why the dominant Chacun Pour Soi will be hard to beat on home soil (Members' Club)

2.40 Musselburgh: 'He has a live chance' – which trainer is looking forward to the better ground?

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