'We're expecting him to run a big race' - Mullins looking to extend his monopoly

Thursday: 2.25 Clonmel
Clonmel Oil Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4f149y | 4yo+ | RTV

Willie Mullins has monopolised this Grade 2 in the last decade with only Road To Riches and Alpha Des Obeaux able to gatecrash the champion trainer's celebrations since Arvika Ligeonniere did the business for him in 2013.

Champagne Fever (2014), Alelchi Inois (2016), Kemboy (2018), Douvan (2019) and Bachasson (2020) have been successful for Mullins and he is responsible for half of the four-runner field so the trend could continue.

Following a fairly dry couple of weeks, Mullins' star names have yet to surface but in Easy Game and Royal Rendezvous he has two talented and reliable performers rated 161.

With stable jockey Paul Townend still sidelined, it is harder to know who is the number one but Danny Mullins continues his association with Galway Plate winner Royal Rendezvous following their narrow success in a Grade 2 at Gowran Park last month.

On that occasion Easy Game (7-4) departed the scene three from home when holding every chance. Royal Rendezvous defied an in-running high of 12.5 to get back up to deny Hardline, who hit a low of 1.1 on Betfair. That was Hardline's first outing in a year so he is entitled to come on for it.

Royal Rendezvous, Hardline and Easy Game have a fitness edge on Fakir D'Oudairies given they ran 40 days ago, but the Joseph O'Brien-trained six-year-old is the best of the bunch according to the handicapper after he was raised to a mark of 165 last spring.

Willie Mullins: has dominated this race in recent yearsCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Having finished runner-up in the Ryanair, albeit beaten a dozen lengths by the relentless Allaho, Fakir D'Oudairies doubled his Grade 1 tally when storming to victory in the Melling Chase at Aintree.

Fakir D'Oudairies goes very well fresh too. He made a winning Irish debut in a Cork maiden hurdle on the back of a 144-day break and in 2019 he commenced his campaign after 190 days off with an impressive victory over Melon in a beginners chase at Navan. He was second to Notebook in the Poplar Square Chase at Naas on his first start last season.

A race-fit Fakir D'Oudairies would be a tough nut to crack here but Royal Rendezvous has won his last three and arrives at the top of his game. There is no obvious rival for early supremacy and he could make all.

Punters paradise

There have been nine winning favourites of the Clonmel Oil Chase in the 11 runnings since 2010, six of which were odds-on. The shortest price of the lot was Sizing Europe in 2012 who went off at 1-7 before beating Magnanimity by 20 lengths.

Alpha Des Obeaux ended a sequence of seven winning favourites in a row when scoring in 2017 at 7-1. Balko Des Flos was the 11-10 market leader that day but could only finish third.

What they say

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of Fakir D'Oudairies
He seems to have summered well and this looked a nice place to start off his season. He's still young even though it feels like he's been around for a while and hopefully he still might be progressing. I wouldn't be against trying three miles again at some stage and we're very pleased with him.

Willie Mullins, trainer of Easy Game and Royal Rendezvous
Easy Game was still going well when hampered and unseating his rider in the race Royal Rendezvous won at Gowran last time. If the ground dries out a bit he should go close. Royal Rendezvous will be suited by this track and the trip is perfect. We're expecting him to run a big race.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Hardline
He ran a nice race on his return at Gowran Park when only just losing out to Royal Rendezvous. That was his first run for a year and he has come out of it in great form. I'm happy with him.

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