“WHO is the W.P. Mullins guy?” came the question from a member of the American racing press in the lead-up to last year’s Breeders’ Cup at Del Mar. Come Saturday afternoon on the same week, Ireland’s all-conquering National Hunt maestro gave the local writers quite the answer in the way he knows best.

Ethical Diamond may have been a shock winner of the Breeders’ Cup Turf on the Californian coast last year, but Mullins has made clear that a repeat bid at Keeneland tonight has been very much the year’s plan for the Del Mar track record holder. Expect a peak performance.

Some notable scalps were taken 12 months ago, including Rebel’s Romance and Minnie Hauk, and another monster effort will be required now. The Ballydoyle duo of Diamond Necklace and Benvenuto Cellini head up the market, while Arc runner-up/British Champion Stakes third Bay City Roller adds real depth to proceedings.

Still, this will be a live chance for Mullins to follow in the footsteps of his late father, Paddy, with a marquee winner in the state of Kentucky. In a most enterprising piece of training and placing, Paddy memorably sent out Grabel to claim the $750,000 Dueling Grounds International Hurdle in 1990.

“Ethical Diamond got into a lot of traffic problems at Kentucky Downs, but we are here. I never dreamed I’d have one good enough to run at the Breeders’ Cup with the type of horses we have,” Mullins said of the HOS Syndicate’s flagbearer.

“I think it’s a much more competitive race this year, but I think we have trained for it while a lot of the others have had a busy autumn. I just had a look at him and he is in great shape. He’s been doing everything well, going into the stalls and drinking well.

“He’s drawn one, which means different tactics and we might have to jump and go, but we will leave that to Dylan [Browne McMonagle]. He’s more mature this year and easier to ride while he settles better.”

Ryan Moore’s decision to ride Benvenuto Cellini hasn’t been agreed with by the market. Diamond Necklace remains favourite under Christophe Soumillon, though the filly is drawn much wider in stall 12 than her stablemate in stall two.

“We always thought this race was made for Benvenuto Cellini,” O’Brien said. “He was a bit slow away in the Arc, but still ran a very good race. If you go back and watch that race, it’s a lot better than you think. Diamond Necklace ran a stormer in the Arc. It was slowly run and she did quicken to go and win, but just got nabbed. It’s going to be interesting with her and you’re going to have to ride her really to get the trip.”