Draconien (Patrick Mullins) winning at Clonmel last month© Photo Healy Racing
Impressive Clonmel winner Draconien takes a step up in company back at the Tipperary track this afternoon when lining up in a competitive Munster Hurdle.
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding made a big impression on his first start for connections last month when cruising to success in a maiden hurdle.
He gets weight from all his rivals now in the two-mile-two-furlong conditions event and will be aiming to build on a perfect start.
The standard in the race is set by the Gordon Elliott-trained Brelade, who holds a hurdles mark of 141.
He reverts to the smaller obstacles having been beaten favourite on his last outing in a decent beginners chase at Fairyhouse last month.
The Presenting gelding had previously chased home Footpad and Petit Mouchoir over fences, and his experience is sure to prove an asset against a field mostly comprising novice hurdlers.
Davy Russell takes the mount on Elliott's other representative, Poli Roi but he has something to prove after fading tamely in Grade Two company at Navan. Beyond The Law a wide-margin winner at Limerick over Christmas, and Ministerforsport who also landed his maiden hurdle at the same venue over the festive period, are others stepping into open company for the first time.
Mullins looks like he could have another profitable day and it would be no surprise if French recruit Pietralunga got him off to a winning start in the opening mares maiden hurdle.
She won on the level on her sole outing in her homeland and looked like she would improve plenty from that experience when scoring at Dieppe in July.
Mullins appears to have a strong hand in the Monroe Maiden Hurdle. Giant Spirit would appear to be first choice on jockey bookings in the two-mile two-furlong contest.
Connections will be hoping he can improve on his first outing for the yard when he finished a slightly disappointing seventh behind Mount Hanover at Fairyhouse last month.
Stablemate Caro Des Flos was turned over at a short price on his recent outing at Limerick and is another who looks capable of better.
