To become a first-time champion trainer in the United Kingdom, Willie Mullins entered both El Fabiolo and Gaelic Warrior at Sandown on Saturday.
With the winners of the last two Arkle renewals at Cheltenham, Mullins has every base covered in the bet365 Celebration Chase, which has £170,000 up for grabs.
Mullins, who has made 25 entries overall, may field Saint Sam, Dysart Dynamo, and Appreciate It, while Henry de Bromhead, the current champion chaser, may field Captain Guinness.
Joe Chambers, the racing manager for Gaelic Warrior's owners Susannah and Rich Ricci, has stated that a late decision is anticipated regarding the horse and that it is unlikely that he would be supplemented for the Champion Chase at Punchestown.
“We’re crawling forward day by day and fully expect him to be entered. We’ll see how things are looking on Thursday morning,” Chambers told the Nick Luck Daily podcast “We’re not in the Champion Chase at Punchestown, only the novice race, and it’s 30,000 euros to supplement, which doesn’t appeal. Willie has always kept novices to novices unless there has been the odd exception. I would have thought winning the Scottish National would make him run less rather than more, but I could be absolutely wrong, I haven’t a clue what they are thinking. He’d be a fair sight, I’d love to see him personally going two miles there, it’s right-handed but whether he goes there or not, it’s going to be very much later in the week.”
While Nicky Henderson's Jonbon is at Punchestown, his favourite place to go is Sandown.
“We are thinking we’re going to Sandown, that’s the plan at the moment, we’re just a little concerned he’s had to start watering quite early. As long as it is safe,” said Henderson. “We did the two (Aintree and Sandown) last year, so it pricked our ears to it again. Punchestown is an option but I’d rather not be travelling, as it would be safer to stay in England, to be honest.”