Sarah is Mullins' best chance of an Ascot victory
| Published date | 19 January 2022 |
| Publication title | Weekender |
After joining Adrian McGuinness from Richard Fahey over the winter, the three-year-old filly was sent on to the all-weather at this track 11 days ago, finishing a very good half-length second to Daintree, off a mark of 71 with a 5lb claimer on board.
She was giving the winner over a stone that day and finished strongly, so has been put up 1lb for that performance.
That does not put me off, however, as she will be running off the equivalent of level weights with the winner as both horses are due to be ridden by claiming jockeys.
Ross O'Sullivan's Springbank looks a fascinating runner in the two-mile race on the same card.
After a five-month break, the Kildare trainer sends this fiveyear-old son of Galileo on to the all-weather for the first time in his career.
A consistent performer in Listed races last season, he never quite found the right opportunity to get a win on the board.
There were, however, many encouraging signs, including when staying on behind Stratum at Gowran Park at the start of last season, while it was a similar story when coming third in a Listed race behind Master Of Reality at Down Royal in July.
He has only tried two miles once in his career and that was when a well-beaten ninth of ten in a Group 3 at the Curragh when trained by Johnny Murtagh.
Running off 97 here, and with Scott McCullagh claiming a valuable 5lb, he could well have a big chance.
Willie Mullins looks likely to be sending Energumene over to Ascot for a mouthwatering clash with Shishkin in the Clarence House. However, it is My Sister Sarah who looks an even better chance for the Closutton trainer to get a winner in the Ascot SBK Mares' Hurdle over three miles.
After an up-and-down season in 2020-21, she showed her class at Kempton in November when romping home in a three-mile Listed Mares' hurdle, beating the useful Dragon Bones by seven lengths.
The eight-year-old was then dropped back in trip to 2m4f at Leopardstown over Christmas, where she was outpaced and finished sixth.
While she may struggle in better-class races, this Listed race looks winnable.
Based on her form in Ireland with Declan Queally, it would be no surprise if Western Victory ran another good race.
However, at the time of writing she is a shorter price than My Sister Sarah and I would have the prices closer.
Half an hour later across the sea at Navan, Willie Mullins unleashes...
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