Emmet Mullins sends three horses to Kelso on Saturday as he aims for further success at the Scottish track.
Mctigue, Feronily and The Shunter all run for the Carlow trainer as he hopes to get winners on the board ahead of the Cheltenham Festival.
Grand National-winning trainer Mullins won the Morebattle Hurdle two years ago with The Shunter, who went on to secure a £100,000 bonus when taking the Paddy Power Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.
He saddles Mctigue, who has won two of his four starts over hurdles, including a Grade Two contest at Auteuil, since joining the yard from Jim Bolger, in the race this time around.
“We are not the only ones after the bonus,” said Mullins. “He is in good form and we’ll get that race out of the way before thinking about the Festival.
“We have different options there. In England, you run off the weight you are allotted, so that is against us for the Festival. That might narrow our options.
“Even if he wins the Morebattle, he won’t carry a penalty in the Boodles, so he can’t go above 11st 12lb, so that’s another angle for him.
“He has a hardiness and experience for a young horse. He was a two-year-old Flat winner and a very precocious horse and has taken to the jumps very well.”
Meanwhile, The Shunter takes on four rivals in the bet365 Premier Chase with Mullins hoping he can return to something like his best.
Mullins feels the 10-year-old, who has been given a break since finishing fourth of 20 in a two-mile Naas Flat handicap in November, is nicely handicapped on his return to the Scottish track.
“These races are all hard to win, but it looks a good spot for him,” said Mullins.
“Fingers crossed he can run his race. Let’s hope he can repeat the magic.”
Meanwhile, Feronily runs in the bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle after finishing third behind Champion Bumper hopeful A Dream To Share at the Dublin Racing Festival.
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