Min© Photo Healy Racing
Jockey Ruby Walsh feels Min is as short as 5-4 favourite for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle mainly because he represents the powerful combination of trainer Willie Mullins and owner Rich Ricci.
The trio have taken the last three runnings of the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser with Champagne Fever Vautour and Douvan and Min is now clear market leader to make it four for the County Carlow team.
He certainly staked a big claim when easily winning the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Saturday.
"It was a good performance on testing ground. He jumped super, took a fair hold, but I suppose in heavy ground you are trying to slow a horse down to get home," Walsh told Racing UK.
"He did jump really well and probably travelled too well, but he quickened up really well from the second last, pinged the last and won comfortably.
"If he was to be a Supreme Novices' horse, he was going to have to win and win the way he did.
"He was very good but he's probably as short as he is owing to the reputation of connections in the last couple of years.
"Is there much value in that? I wouldn't think so."
Min is not the only Mullins' hope in the Supreme and Walsh expects the picture to become clearer after the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown on February 6.
"Yorkhill has only had two runs, he might have another run. Bellshill has had three so he probably doesn't have to run again, but Willie also has the likes of Petit Mouchoir " he said.
"We have plenty of horses there and I imagine a couple will run in the Deloitte in Leopardstown and we'll know a lot more after that."
