Willie Mullins expects Mercurey to be too hot for his Limerick rivals in bumper

Champion (Pro/Am) Flat Race (Listed Race) | 4yo | 2m | RTV

Patrick Mullins would have had a straightforward decision to make in siding with Mercurey over Impulsive Dancer in this Listed four-year-old bumper, that's according to his father and champion jumps trainer Willie Mullins.

Mercurey looked an exceptional recruit in slamming his Gowran Park rivals on Thyestes Day, whereas Impulsive Dancer won his only start for Richard O’Brien at Naas before being snapped up by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

There is a single line of form that suggests Patrick Mullins has made the right call. In blowing his Gowran Park rivals away, Mercurey had 16 lengths to spare from the Gordon Elliott-trained Douglas Dc, while Impulsive Dancer only beat that rival by eight lengths, despite receiving 7lb.

Willie Mullins has had this race in mind for both horses for some time and reports them to be working well at home.

He said: "Impulsive Dancer really excelled in testing conditions at Naas and we have had this race in mind for him for a while now. His work at home – on nicer ground – has been good enough and, with his Flat background, he should be well able to handle the drying conditions."

He added: "Mercurey looked above average in winning his bumper at Gowran Park on Thyestes Day. He's a big, long-striding type who looks more of a winter horse than a summer horse so maybe these drying conditions may not suit him."

Asked to split the pair, Mullins replied: "There is far more scope for improvement in Mercurey coming from a jumping background than there is in the Flat-bred Impulsive Dancer.

"It would have been hard for Patrick to get off Mercurey because of that. I'd imagine Impulsive Dancer could run on the level, depending on what his owners want to do, this year."

Mullins may hold the key to the finale, but he believes Jessica Harrington’s Lifetime Ambition sets a high bar for his Egality Mans to aim at in the 3m½f novice chase.

He said: "Egality Mans is in good form but, looking at Lifetime Ambition, he could be difficult to beat."

Lifetime Ambition will be tackling this trip for the first time but, being a former point-to-point winner and by the Gold Cup-winning sire Kapgarde, is expected to take it in his stride.

Harrington said: "I think stepping up in trip is the right thing to do. He stays well and we're going to ride him quietly. We took plenty of encouragement out of his last run at Naas where he may well have won had he jumped the last two fences better. We're looking forward to stepping him up in trip here."

For all our exclusive free bet offers and must-have daily promotions click the free bets button or go to racingpost.com/freebets