'We've a bit of unfinished business' - Emmet Mullins hopeful Its On The Line can make it third time lucky in Hunters' Chase

A powerful Irish challenge for the St James's Place Festival Challenge Cup is spearheaded by the Emmet Mullins-trained Its On The Line, who is back for his third attempt at the race and is still younger than all but one of the event's last 11 winners.

In 2023 he overtook five horses from the last to take second behind Premier Magic. Ridden more prominently last year, he led on the run-in before being pegged back by Sine Nomine. 

Twice successful in the championship event at the Punchestown festival and a decisive winner of last season's Aintree Foxhunters, the eight-year-old was not at his best when soundly beaten in third behind Ryehill and Ontheropes at Naas last month. He should be sharper now and will be more effective on better ground.

Angels Dawn won the Kim Muir in 2023 and looked destined for second when falling two out in last year's repeat bid. She has qualified with a cantering win at Boulta in November and a more meaningful performance at Dromahane in late December, scoring by six lengths from Ryehill. 

Her stamina and depth of handicap experience make her a formidable contender for Sam Curling, whose other runner, Wonderwall, could outrun his odds

Willitgoahead, prepared for the race in the point-to-point heartland of Wexford by Sean Doyle, is a last-minute addition to the Gordon Elliott team to carry the Bective Stud colours. 

Winner of only one of his first six starts in points, he was unbeaten in three during the autumn campaign and stepped up from a Limerick defeat at Christmas to gain a stylish hunter chase win at Thurles in January.

The former Elliott-trained Music Drive, Grade 2-placed over hurdles, is a leading hope for the home team. Trained by Kelly Morgan, he has won both starts in points under Ellie Callwood, who bids for her first racecourse win in this high-pressure environment.

Olive Nicholls rides Shearer, bidding to give her father's yard a fifth win in the race. Unbeaten in four starts over fences, the eight-year-old won two small-field novice events in 2023 and came home clear of the only other finisher in a hunter chase on his comeback at Ffos Las last month. Workmanlike in following up at Taunton, he faces a much more difficult task here.

Allmankind, a Grade 1-winning novice in 2020, recorded the most recent of his nine wins under rules in the Old Roan at Aintree in 2021. Alex Chadwick has ridden him to two pointing wins for Jennifer Owen. He may retain plenty of ability, but his stamina is not guaranteed at this level.

Best endowed in that department is course-and-distance winner Angels Dawn. With the benefit of the 7lb mares' allowance exploited by Sine Nomine 12 months ago, she appeals against Its On The Line and Willitgohead in what is likely to be an Irish-dominated finish.
Analysis by Alan Sweetman

What they say

James Owen, husband of Jenny Owen, trainer of Allmankind
The trip is a step into the unknown, but he’s definitely a more amenable horse and not the tearaway he used to be. He had been running okay over hurdles and it was Tim [Gredley, co-owner] who suggested we try him in points with an eye to hunter chases. He’s given us two great days in those, and I'm sure he’ll be bang there coming down the hill; it’s just whether he then gets up the hill to the line. He did tough it out when he won at Higham last time and that’s a stayer’s course.

Tim Vaughan, trainer of Angels Breath
He's been a classy horse in his time and has form around Cheltenham. We bought him with a view to giving my lad Edward a spin in the race. It's competitive, but he does not look out of place.

David Loughnane, trainer of Bardenstown Lad
If he ran up to his best form he’d have a chance, and he stepped up to win a hunter chase at Fakenham last time. We’re lucky enough to have a horse good enough to go there and he has a sporting chance.

Gina Andrews, trainer and rider of Fairly Famous
He’s earned his crack at this having won twice at the track at the May meeting in recent years. He’s won two open point-to-points as a prep, as if we’d run him in hunter chases he would have had to carry penalties. Drying ground would be in his favour.

Emmet Mullins, trainer of Its On The Line
We've a bit of unfinished business with him finishing second in the race the past two years. He was definitely a bit disappointing in Naas last time, but it was very gluey ground and he didn't get going on it at all. We're hopeful we have him back in the same form as he was last year and he should be there or thereabouts.

Emmet Mullins: trainer of Its On The LineCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Kelly Morgan, trainer of Music Drive
He’s got previous form at Cheltenham before he came to us following a long time off, but his preparation could not have gone any smoother. He’s won two point-to-points of late and goes there full of confidence. We are very excited about his chances.

Declan Queally, trainer of Rocky's Howya
He's fresher than he was when fourth two years ago. He beat Con's Roc in a point last time and the division looks wide open. I'm sure Its On The Line will bring his A-game to Cheltenham, but we beat him at Ballindenisk in 2023, albeit he's probably a fresher horse at this time of year.

Ross O'Sullivan, trainer of Ryehill
He travelled over well and is in good shape. It will take a bit of riding around there with 24 runners. He was fine in a small field the last day so this is a different kettle of fish. I'd have liked a little bit more rain for him and it's drying out as much as he would want it. He stays very well, though, so I don't think the trip will be a problem. If he just gets into a nice rhythm and gets jumping early and hunts away, he should come home well. I wouldn't swap him for anything else in the race.

Paul Nicholls, trainer of Shearer
It’s a wide-open race this year and we’ve got him qualified for this and he goes there with a shout. It’s competitive, as you would expect, but he goes there full of confidence.

Paul Nicholls: runs Shearer in the Hunters' ChaseCredit: Megan Dent / The Jockey Club

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Willitgoahead
Obviously he was only bought by Noel and Valerie [Moran] a few days ago, but I've been a big fan of him for a while. Touch wood, he seems to be a very slick jumper and he's only seven, too, so hopefully the future is bright. Jamie [Scallan] knows him well and hopefully he'll give him a great spin.
Reporting by David Milnes

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