Willie Mullins-trained horse attracting Cheltenham Festival support as odds cut

A Willie Mullins-trained horse is attracting Cheltenham Festival support ahead of his second run over hurdles at Punchestown this weekend.

Impaire Et Passe bolted up by 18 lengths when winning at Naas on his debut for the Mullins team last month and runs in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on Sunday, a race the Carlow trainer has previously won with the likes of Vautour, Douvan, Min and last year with Dysart Dynamo.

Following support for Cheltenham ahead of this weekend's Grade 2 contest, Ladbrokes have cut the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned five-year-old into 10/1 from 12/1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the opening race of the March Festival.

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Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Impaire Et Passe looks set to be Willie Mullins’ number one in the Moscow Flyer at Punchestown on Sunday, and punters are braced for an impressive performance judging by the support we have seen.”

Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, feels Impaire Et Passe is "the obvious candidate" for Sunday's race.

He said: “I think Impaire Et Passe is the obvious candidate for the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle.

“He is a big scopey horse who won well at Naas the last day.

“He had been working well at home going to Naas but certainly nothing like what he showed that day and that surpassed our expectations.”

The Mullins stable have a second entrant in the race in the shape of Tax For Max, a more experienced six-year-old who will represent the same owners.

Impaire Et Passe's stablemate Facile Vega remains the odds-on favourite for the Supreme ahead of the Barry Connell-trained Marine Nationale.

Ladbrokes odds for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

4/5 Facile Vega, 4/1 Marine Nationale, 10/1 Impaire Et Passe, Tahmuras, 14/1 bar

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