‘You’ll see the real deal in Punchestown’ – Willie Mullins’ bet of the week is 11-2 😱

Willie Mullins is back fit and well off the back of a small operation ahead of the Punchestown Festival next week and is absolutely raring to go. Mullins has enjoyed another steller season and reports that most of his leading stars will be tavelling from Closutton to Punchestown for the five-day meeting which starts on Tuesday. The champion trainer will be crowned top trainer in Ireland for the 17th time and spoke really highly of one horse in particular for the week ahead.

Champion Stayers’ Hurdle

With Galopin Des Champs, Energumene and other big stars running at Punchestown this week, it would have been very easy for Mullins to talk up one of his big favourites. However, he has really talked up Klassical Dream for the Stayers’, a race he has won twice already and if he is right, the price looks massive currently.

Mullins stated: “Klassical Dream is the one that can go back to Punchestown and win it (for the third year in a row). We didn’t know whether we were going to make it or not to Cheltenham but we thought his work was good enough. We took our chance. I think you’ll see the real Klassical Dream in Punchestown.”

Watch the weather for Energumene

The recent Champion Chase winner is a proper soft ground horse so it’s important to keep an eye on the weather forecast as if it dries out too much then he may well drift a bit in the market.

Mullins stated: “I was particularly pleased how he did it in Cheltenham. He’d been working like that at home. We were all a little disappointed when he disappointed at the rescheduled Clarence House Chase but I think we learned so much that day which meant he was a very good winner of the Champion Chase.

“The white fences might have upset him, we sharpened up tactics. I think he’s a fair sort to do what he did two years running and in the manner he did it in Cheltenham. Those ground conditions are very helpful to him as well. He probably won’t get those in Punchestown but if he does get wet weather, he’s going to be very difficult to beat with a clear round. We have Gentleman Du Mee in that race and he won’t be hanging around at the start. That’s his nature and Energumene can follow away.”

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