Jasmin De Vaux going for Grade One gold at Naas this weekend

Champion Bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux bids for a first Grade One victory over obstacles in the Lawlor’s of Naas Novice Hurdle on Sunday.

The six-year-old went into the record books after providing Willie Mullins with his 100th Cheltenham Festival winner last season and made a successful start to his hurdling career at Navan in December.

While his jumping was less than convincing, the form could hardly have worked out better, with both the runner-up The Enabler and the third placed Workahead winning at Leopardstown over the festive period.

Mullins teamed up with owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede to land last year’s renewal with Readin Tommy Wrong, and Jasmin De Vaux will be favourite to add his name to a roll of honour which also features the likes of Mikael d’Haguenet (2009) and Envoi Allen (2020).

The Paul Townend-ridden Jasmin De Vaux lines up as one of four runners for the champion trainer, with Supersundae (Patrick Mullins), Spasiba (Danny Mullins) and Plontier (Sean O’Keeffe) also in the mix.

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: “Jasmin De Vaux showed his engine when winning the Champion Bumper last year. His jumping in Navan left room for improvement and we think he has improved his technique at home, but he could be a horse that needs racing to really get the hang of it.

“I’m delighted to get back on Supersundae. I thought he ran a cracker in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle last season (finished seventh), I think we could have been a close fourth if we hadn’t lost our hind legs at the back of the second-last.

“That was a big ask for him on his first run for us and he went to Ballinrobe then and won in the spring. Obviously this is his first run back after a long break, but I’d be expecting him to go very close.

“Plontier ran very well in Fairyhouse (fourth in Royal Bond Novice Hurdle) and he should be competitive once again, and Spasiba won around the track and is hard fit from being Flat-raced during the summer and he should be capable of getting some prize-money as well.”

Gordon Elliott saddles both The Yellow Clay and Wingmen, with the former bidding to stretch his unbeaten record over hurdles to four.

The field is completed by Henry de Bromhead’s Butch Cassidy, who runs in the Sue Magnier colours, and the Ted Walsh-trained Shuffle The Deck, who has his sights raised after impressing over the course and distance three weeks ago.

“He’s in good form. It looks a competitive race, but we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to Shuffle The Deck’s owner JP McManus.

“Hopes and dreams are there at the minute anyway!”