WILLIE MULLINS is all set to finally take the wraps off one of his ‘absolutely ridiculous’ Cheltenham Festival favourites.
The Closutton boss is readying for a monster three months with all roads leading to Prestbury Park in March.
And Christmas is when he likes to unleash his big guns and start to establish his pecking order for the big Grade 1s.
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Punters have waited a long time to see this particular horse since he won his last race by an ‘absolutely ridiculous’ 62 lengths having been sent off 1-12 last May.
But the time has now come for current Supreme Novices’ Hurdle fav Salvator Mundi to race again.
A pre-season setback meant the Joe and Marie Donnelly-owned four-year-old was a few weeks behind in his prep.
But Mullins is a strict taskmaster on his gallops and now he deems him fit enough to face the music at Leopardstown on Friday, December 27.
How he runs could have a massive bearing on the ante-post market.
At 8-1, Salvator Mundi is around half the price of Supreme second-fav Jeroboam Machin, who is yet to be seen this season either.
A lot of Mullins’ horses have needed their second runs so far this campaign.
But if Salvator Mundi scoots up you can expect his price to collapse and he be the horse to beat come March.
It won’t be easy though.
While Salvator Mundi heads the market at 7-4 for the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle, Gordon Elliott runs two with a huge chance.
The impressive Gigginstown-owned Bleu De Vassy, who has won by a combined 30 lengths in two runs this season, is 3-1 second-fav with Paddy Power.
While last season’s Champion Bumper runner-up Romeo Coolio, beaten at 1-2 on his reappearance, is 4-1.
Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle odds via Paddy Power
7-4 Salvator Mundi
3-1 Bleu De Vassy
4-1 Romeo Coolio
7-1 Ballygunner Castle
8-1 Karniquet
10-1 Karafon
14-1 Casheldale Lad
16-1 Sea Of Sands, The Yellow Clay
25-1 Gaucher
33-1 Plontier
100-1 bar
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