THE recent exploits of The Shunter and Noble Yeats have catapulted Emmet Mullins into the spotlight ahead of the big festival meetings and the trainer gave updates on his Cheltenham runners as the weights for the handicaps were released.

Mullins also has a Grade 1 contender in recent winner Corbetts Cross, best priced as 7/2 favourite for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. Grand National winner Noble Yeats (8/1) has also become a legitimate contender for the Gold Cup and with Filey Bay (6/1) currently favourite for the County Hurdle, Mullins could have a memorable St Patrick’s Day’s on the Friday.

“He’s been in great form since the Cotswold Chase and we’re just hoping we get a clean run with him. I suppose the cheekpieces made a big difference for him so we’re hoping for a repeat. Ground-wise I suppose we’re quite laid back and we’ll take what we’re given. A proper Gold Cup test will play to his strengths. He’s going to have to step forward from his last run but it’s something he’s been able to do and hopefully can repeat it.”

Mctigue (Boodles Juvenile H’cap)

“We’ll get the Morebattle out of the way first but we’ve a few options. I don’t think the weight for age scale works to our advantage in England, in Ireland you run off the weight you’re allotted while it counts against us here in that sense, which might narrow our options. He’s got top-weight in the Boodles but if he wins the Morebattle he won’t carry a penalty because you can’t carry more than 11st 12lbs in a race – so that’s another angle for him.

Corbetts Cross (Albert Bartlett Novices’)

“He’s been a bit of a talking horse and to be fair he’s in very good form coming into it, so he has to be taken seriously wherever he turns up.”

Filey Bay (McCoy Contractors County H’cap Hurdle)

“He’s come out of the race well (second in the Betfair Hurdle). We were unfortunate to bump into a very good horse and he’ll be competitive at Cheltenham but he just might bump into something.”

So Scottish (Magners Plate)

“He’s come through his work well and fingers crossed he gets to the Plate.

Its On The Line (St James’s Place

Festival Hunters’ Chase)

I think Its On The Line has got a big shout as well. It might come a year too soon but he’s doing everything right.”