Mullins sends strong team to Sligo

Willie Mullins sends a strong team of three horses to Sligo on Sunday, with Bachasson starting off for the Closutton yard in the Un De Sceaux colours of Edward O'Connell.

Ruby Walsh rides the French import in the opening Pet Shop Maiden Hurdle. This grey, a son of Voix Du Nord like the stable's unbeaten chasing mare Vroum Vroum Mag, comes here with two AQPS wins under his belt.

One would have thought the four-year-old will take a deal of beating, if jumping proficiently, while just over an hour later the Mullins representative is more familiar to an Irish, and indeed Sligo, audience. Long Dog won a 10-furlong maiden at the Cleveragh course for Andy Oliver back in August 2013.

Mullins likes the 'horses for courses' theory, so it should not be a surprise that he brings the now Rich Ricci-owned Long Dog here for his second start over timber.

The lightly-raced son of Notnowcato made a satisfactory start at the winter game when runner-up at Fairyhouse in November and looks superior to this opposition.

Having said that, JP McManus' five-year-old After Rain has the makings of a nice horse, although he did not come up to expectations on his sole start to date in a Killarney bumper.

Shay Barry's charge gave the impression he would be a better horse given a bit of time, and it will be interesting to see how he fares now under Barry Geraghty, with a hood deployed. Fugi Mountain rounds off the day for Willie and Patrick Mullins in the Sligo Rovers Race Day 5th August INH Flat Race.

This half-brother to 2013 Nakayama Grand Jump hero Blackstairmountain finished second at Leopardstown in January when behind the similarly well-related Woodland Opera.

The likes of Bertie Bell Westren Warrior and Better Back Bracka will ensure that Fugi Mountain does not have it all his own way, though.