Georg boosts Festival claims Boxer Georg completed a double on the afternoon for the father and son team of Willie and Patrick Mullins when taking the two and a half miles maiden hunters chase. The ten-year-old Taipan gelding finished a gallant second to Baby Run in the Foxhunters at Aintree last April, and that is again the target this season. He led approaching two out and from that point his chief concern was caused by a loose horse (Wild Salmon) running about. However the 9/4 second favourite kept on well to beat Zardsky (25/1) by two lengths, with Mountain Lough (11/2) holding every chance a further half a length away in third. The 6/4 favourite No Notions could find no extra from the turn in, and eventually finished a disappointing tenth. Willie Mullins said, “He’s a stronger horse this year. He got lost in that ground last year, and I didn’t think he would handle it today. The aim is the Foxhunters at Aintree. “If he gets qualified for Cheltenham then he’ll go there. We’ll certainly try to get him qualified. I didn’t think it was possible for a horse of his age to still be improving. They should open up bumpers to ten-year-olds!” Stan James cut Boxer Georg into 12/1 (from 16/1) for the Foxhunters at Cheltenham.
