Danny Mullins, right, rides Mount Benbulben© Photo Healy Racing
Danny Mullins is looking for his first Grade One win aboard Mount Benbulben in the Powers Gold Cup at Fairyhouse today at 4.30.
The young jockey picked up the plum job as retained pilot for leading owner Barry Connell halfway through this season and recent high-profile purchases such as Golantilla and Our Conor are likely to propel him into the big time.
Mullins has already won a decent race on Mount Benbulben, the first time he sat on him at Thurles, and conditions would appear to be in his favour once more in the feature race on the opening day of the Easter Festival.
"When you think of Mount Benbulben, you think about his jumping but he jumped well for me the last day so I'm not too worried about that," said Mullins.
"Given a clear round I think he's as good as anything else so we'll jump around first and then we'll see.
"He gave me a great feel at Thurles and I'm hoping for a good run, with a bit of luck we'll be thereabouts. I've ridden in plenty of Grade Ones but he'd be my best chance I'd have thought.
"Before declarations I'd have thought Arvika Ligeonniere was the one we had to beat but he's out now so I suppose it would be Oscars Well
"He's maybe not quite achieved what they thought he would over fences, but if it all came together for him you couldn't write him off and I know Willie (Mullins) is happy with Mikael D'Haguenet but you never really know with him."
Gigginstown House Stud always have plenty to chose from in these races and rely on the Tony Martin-trained Dedigout
A Grade One winner as a hurdler, he has yet to reach those heights over fences and Gigginstown's jockey Davy Russell believes this will be they day they will find out if he ever will.
"Dedigout is a nice horse and won a Grade One last season over hurdles but whether he's up to this standard over fences we don't know," said Russell.
"I think he's a nice horse and he really enjoys soft ground. He might need a bit further than this in time."
