Copacabana books his ticket for Cheltenham bumper

Willie Mullins has struggled to find Cheltenham Festival bumper contenders this season but may have found the answer with Copacabana who took the William Hill Keep Your Raceday Positive (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race at Navan.

There were plenty still in contention with under a quarter of a mile to run and Copacabana was ridden to lead over a furlong out by Patrick Mullins.

The 9/4 favourite soon asserted and galloped strongly through the line to beat Burrows Drive by five lengths with Coyote Spirit half-a-length back in third.

Mullins said: "I think we'll have to buy the ticket now (Cheltenham bumper)!

"He's a lovely, big, chasing type and I was looking forward to bringing him up here on this track. I thought he would show himself off well and he did.

"There was so much talk about so many horses before the race. It looked a very deep race and I'm very pleased for his owners. It looks like we will have to book a ticket for them for March.

"He hasn't been showing too much at home until lately. He is a big unit, and it has taken me plenty of time to get him right. Every time we asked him a question, he gave the right answers. We were getting very tight to qualifying for Cheltenham. He just answered that question nicely.

"He loved that type of ground. With his size and everything, I wouldn't like to campaign him on good ground for a while yet. He looks a horse that would need a nice dig in it."

The winner was introduced at 9/1 with bet365 for the Cheltenham Festival bumper.

Quotes by Michael Graham