IN what many may see as an unusual prep race to ready a horse for a tilt at a Champion Chase, Willie Mullins sends one of his contenders for a confidence-boosting run in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park (1.44).

A ready winner of three of his four starts over fences, the Luke McMahon-owned gelding came down at the first when sent off a 4/1 shot to beat stablemates Min and Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase at the Dublin Racing Festival.