Mullins reveals plans for stars

Updated: Thursday, 16 Oct 2014 17:30 | Comments French recruit Vautour is unbeaten since moving to the Willie Mullins yard

Willie Mullins has revealed Supreme Novices' Hurdle hero Vautour is likely to embark on a career over fences this season.

The five-year-old was a stunning winner of the Cheltenham Festival curtain-raiser in March and made it five from five for Ireland's champion trainer when stepped up in trip at Punchestown in early May.

Owner Rich Ricci reported at the start of the month another of his prized assets, Faugheen, would remain over hurdles this term and now his trainer has confirmed the intention is for Vautour to go over the larger obstacles.

Mullins said: "Vautour will probably go over fences.

"The ground has been so fast that you wouldn't really want to school horses at the moment. The horses are still heavy and you want to keep them sound.

"They came back in very heavy this year and I would say it's the best summer grass we've ever had. There was such great growth."

Another hugely exciting runner for the Mullins-Ricci combination is the brilliant mare Annie Power.

The six-year-old has been successful in 11 of her 12 starts, with her only defeat coming when runner-up in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Mullins has not yet decided whether she will remain over timber or go chasing this term, but has not ruled out mixing the two.

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Mullins reveals plans for stars