WILLIE Mullins saddled 13 winners at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival and they included five Grade 1 winners.

The impressive haul took Mullins past his great rival Gordon Elliott at the top of the trainers’ table though less than €100,000 separates the pair as we head into the Dublin Racing Festival next weekend.

All five of Mullins’ Grade 1 winners are set to go to war again at Leopardstown and the back-up team is not too shabby either.

Of the four Grade 1 races on Saturday at Leopardstown, Mullins looks to have two at his mercy and a big chance in the other two.

Chacun Pour Soi and Min are both on course to represent the yard in the two-mile Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. The Rich Ricci-owned pair were first and second in this race last year and it’s easy to see them again dominating. Chacun Pour Soi is currently the 4/9 favourite while Min is 100/30 second favourite for a race he won in 2018 and 2019.

Mullins said: “At the moment both are ready to run. There hasn’t been a suitable race for Min since he won the John Durkan in early December but I am happy with him. Chacun Pour Soi is in good form and going nicely at home. He’s ready to go.”

Novice chasers

Moving on to the Arkle Novice Chase, Mullins confirmed that recent Naas winner Energumene “looks one for it” while Franco De Port is likely to “take his chance” as he bids to repeat his course and distance success at the Christmas Festival.

Mullins did not rule out running Asterion Forlonge, who is reportedly in good shape following his recent first-fence fall at Punchestown. “He hasn’t had a lot of competiton this season and I am looking for a suitable race for him. Remember, he has won a Grade 1 hurdle race around Leopardstown, so he handles the track.”

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Honeysuckle is likely to start favourite to retain her Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle crown, but Mullins will not make it easy for her as he plans to run the ‘S’ team of Sadlier, Sainte Roi and course specialist Sharjah.

The usual hold-up tactics were cast aside for Sharjah in last year’s running and he disappointed, but he looked as good as ever when winning the Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle over Christmas. He also proved on that occasion that he is very effective on soft ground, as well as good.

Mullins has no explanation for Saint Roi’s apparent below-par performance when fourth in that Christmas contest but is hopeful the horse can put that effort behind him, while the trainer expects significant improvement next weekend from Saldier, who was having his first run for over a year when finishing sixth at Leopardstown. “He ran well but just got tired,” was Mullins’ verdict.

Sunday card

Appreciate It and Monkfish look bankers for the Mullins team on the Sunday card. The trainer has confirmed that Appreciate It remains on course for the two-mile Chanelle Pharma Novice Hurdle, while Monkfish runs in the Flogas Novice Chase over two miles and five furlongs.

“The two-mile race would look the plan at the moment for Appreciate It, and the Flogas looks the target for Monkfish. He’s a natural chaser and a nice horse to have in the yard.”

Mullins will run Savills Cup second and third Kemboy and Melon in the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup. Looking back at the Christmas race won by A Plus Tard, Mullins said: “Kemboy ran his race but I think Melon can improve a good bit for a chancge in tactics. He’s a horse we have always ridden forward in his races over shorter trips and we did that again in the Savills but we might change tactics this time.”

The first Grade 1 on Sunday’s card is the Tattersalls Ireland Spring Juvenile Hurdle and it promises to be a cracker with Mullins possibly fielding French Aseel, Youmdor and Saint Sam against the best of Gordon Elliott’s youngsters.

French Aseel has yet to run for Mullins, having been acquired privately by owner Joe Donnelly following a stunning display at Leopardstown’s Christmas meeting for trainer Ellmarie Holden. “He has settled in fine since we got him,” reported Mullins. “He looks to be a good jumper.”

Youmdor looked a likely winner when taking a fall at the final flight at Fairyhouse recently. “He’s 100% and a possible runner,” said the trainer, who also has Ha D’Or and Saint Sam in the mix. The last two-named finished third and fourth behind Elliott’s Zanahiyr at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.