Cheltenham Festival 2016 Betting: Limini looks like keeping the Mullins bandwagon rolling in Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
This year sees the inaugural running of the Trull House Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (4.50pm), which may once again turn out to be a Willie Mullins benefit race.
On Tuesday, Vroum Vroum Mag gave the Closutton handler a record eighth straight win in the Mares' Hurdle and there is every chance he’ll hold a similar vice-like grip on this contest.
He saddles the hugely exciting LIMINI tomorrow afternoon, who is unbeaten in both starts to date for Mullins, and is a best-priced 10/11 with Betway tomorrow afternoon.
She bolted up in a decent-looking Grade Three hurdle at Fairyhouse on her last start and is rumoured to possess so much speed that connections are contemplating a trip to Royal Ascot with her.
If there’s one flaw in the five-year-old's armoury, it’s her jumping, as she clouted more hurdles than I’d have liked last time, but her trainer is bound to have tidied up that aspect of her game.
Her biggest threat should come from northern raider Smart Talk, if the betting markets are to be believed.
She was gutsy when winning a decent mares’ prize at Doncaster back in January and looks the obvious one to pick up the pieces if anything goes wrong with Limini.
That said, Nicky Henderson’s Bloody Mary may have something to say about that, and I suggested backing her at 14/1 in our ‘Road to Cheltenham’ column a few weeks ago.
There won’t be a smaller horse running at Cheltenham all week and if you are at Prestbury Park tomorrow afternoon, I advise you to go to the paddock and take a look at her.
She wouldn’t look out of place in a Greyhound Derby, but whatever she lacks in size, she more than makes up for in heart and is one to side with in a match bet with Sporting Index.
The reality is that, barring disaster, we should see the unveiling of another Mullins-trained superstar and I expect a flood of money to arrive for Limini throughout the day.
Pointers: Limini 4.50pm Cheltenham & Bloody Mary (already advised 14/1) 4.50pm Cheltenham