With the Cheltenham Festival just a month away, I’m going to look ahead to the Festival in the coming weeks with a few ante-post teasers to get you ready for the Greatest show on Earth.
This first article focuses on the exploits of Willie Mullins’ Bunk Off Early, who, by his run in the Deloitte Novice Hurdle, looks to have a great chance in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Prestbury Park.
The son of Zebedee, judging by his breeding out of Richard Hannon’s superb sprinter would invariably have little chance of staying two miles but the five-year-old looks something out of the ordinary.
Trained on the flat in Ireland by Andy Oliver, Bunk Off Early won once from seven starts in a Cork maiden by two and a quarter-lengths. After finishing second at Navan in a handicap over six furlongs in October 2015, the gelding was bought by Supreme Horse Racing Club, who have owned some cracking horses in recent times including Open Eagle and Airlie Beach, and sent to Closutton handler Willie Mullins.
A five and a half-length winner on his first start at Leopardstown in December last year, the Irish-bred gelding impressed with his jumping that day despite being keen throughout and also travelled best to come clear after the final obstacle. Importantly the horse he beat into second that day, Outspoken has subsequently come out and won since, beaten decent yardstick Icario by four and a half-lengths in a canter at Naas, whilst decent bumper horse Jelan was also behind Mullins’ charge that day.
That performance left a distinct impression on me but more interesting was his superb effort in the Grade One Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown over the weekend. Despite finishing second to stable companion Bacardys on that occasion, it was a superb run from Bunk Off Early who pulled markedly throughout the two mile and two furlong contest. He was far too keen for his own hood and lesser horses would have been beaten out of sight had they done the same.
However Mullins’ charge was still in the lead approaching the last and his stamina only gave out in the closing stages with Bacardys under an all out Patrick Mullins ride getting up close home.
In all honesty, it was a brilliant run from Bunk Off Early. He jumped and travelled like a good thing and I’m sure he would have won had he not expended far too much energy early on. A shorter trip of two-miles for the Supreme Novices’ looks right up his street and whilst he will have to take on well-backed favourite and stable-mate Melon, he looks a great each-way shout at 7/1.
Selection (On scale of 1-5 points)
Bunk Off Early, 7/1, Sky Bet Supreme Novices Hurdle, 2pts E/W (Each-Way)
