Team Mullins bid to add to 47 per cent strike-rate in Britain - but does Road To Home need further?

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It’s not often that Patrick and Willie Mullins team up in Britain outside of the big spring meetings at Cheltenham and Aintree, but it’s worth taking note when they do because the father-and-son duo have joined forces for 16 winners from 34 runs, a  strike-rate of 47 per cent.

Road To Home was one of those successes when landing a maiden hurdle at Hexham in March, but he was beaten on his return to Britain, again under Mullins, at Doncaster last month. Nevertheless, that close third of seven was a career best on Racing Post Ratings.

It was also his first handicap chase, so there should be plenty of improvement to come, but there is little doubt that he was doing his best work late that day and it will be interesting to see whether the extra furlong here is a sufficient test of stamina. That is the concern.

Nicky Henderson excels at Newbury, and that is particularly true at this time of year. His strike-rate at the course jumps to 26 per cent in the month of December, and that suggests Don’t Tell Su will be ready to go on his debut for the stable following 284 days off the track.

Like ownermate Old Park Star, who was so impressive at Cheltenham on Friday, Don’t Tell Su joined Henderson from Paul Nicholls and connections will be hoping he finds the same amount of improvement on what will be the seven-year-old’s second start over fences.

He made mistakes and was disappointing on his first chase run, but can only improve for that initial experience and remains totally unexposed to the handicapper. Maybe this could be his day.
Analysis by Graeme Rodway

Ground and weather 

The going was good to soft, soft in places on Monday. A morning ground frost is expected to be followed by fog and showers during racing, bringing 1-3mm of rain.

What they say

Jonjo O’Neill, joint-trainer of Peso
He’s schooled nicely at home and we're looking forward to getting him started over fences. It’s hard to say if he’ll win until the team hits form.  

Jane Williams, trainer of Knight Of Allen
He ran a nice first race over fences when second at Chepstow last time, considering the ground was too quick for him. He’s only young, so hopefully he has a big future.

Nicky Henderson, trainer of Don’t Tell Su
He’s new to us, but he had a run over fences for Paul Nicholls. We're looking forward to getting him started.

Josh Moore, joint-trainer of Icare Grandchamp
He’s been off for a long while and may just need it, but he’s schooled well and the track will suit.
Reporting by David Milnes

By Lewis Porteous

1. Believe in Newbury Daydream?

Willie Mullins, who saddles Road To Home in the 2m4f handicap chase (2.33), is not the only Irish-based trainer in action at Newbury today, as William Harvey sends out his first runner in Britain courtesy of Daydream Nation in the 2m4½f novice hurdle (1.23). Based in Balbriggan, Dublin, Harvey has saddled a combined five winners over jumps and on the Flat since last year, with his last success coming when Daydream Nation landed a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park by 16 lengths in October. Clearly held in high regard, the son of Doyen faces last-time-out winner Kripticjim (Joe Tizzard) in an intriguing race that was won by the smart Gidleigh Park two years ago.

2. Williams watch at Ludlow

Two winners and two seconds from her last six runners suggests this could be the time to jump on the Venetia Williams bandwagon. November was a surprisingly quiet month for Williams, with just three winners from 30 runners, but with Zertakt scoring at Cheltenham on Saturday and Lady Pretender winning comfortably at Plumpton on Monday, the tide looks like it has started to turn. The Grand National-winning trainer has saddled more winners at Ludlow than any other track, scoring 91 times from 544 runners, so don't be surprised to see Hunter Legend (1.45) and Lemoncello (2.55) leave their recent form behind them at the Shropshire track today.

3. Globetrotter lights up Kempton

Hong Kong's loss is Kempton's gain on Wednesday night when William Haggas's globetrotter Dubai Honour contests the Listed Wild Flower Stakes (6.10). Second in the Hong Kong Vase 12 months ago, Dubai Honour missed the same Group 1 at Sha Tin on Sunday and stays closer to home as he faces four rivals in a £50,000 contest over 1m4f. This is likely to be Dubai Honour's last run before he heads back to Australia in the spring and he will be bidding to confirm form with Shader, who he beat by a length in the Churchill Stakes at Southwell at the end of last month. Group 1 winner Ancient Wisdom and Royal Ascot scorer Claymore also stand in his way.

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