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While it's understandable that Annie Power is being talked of as being supplemented for the Champion, it is worth remembering that, when it comes to it, Mullins likes to stick to the old adage of a trainer keeping himself in the best of company and his horses in the worst. It might not be a done deal.
The Lambourn trainer switched his attention to the opening day: "All five of mine in the Stan James Champion Hurdle can run and it is perfectly possible that all would go for the race, though that is not certain.
"Sign Of A Victory has to have very good ground - he is in good form but must have the right going. Where else do we go with him? He is too high in the handicap to run in the County Hurdle. The ground can change quite quickly at Cheltenham.
"Top Notch and Hargam look in good shape and have done lots of work. Top Notch was great at Kelso, the perfect preparation and everything is cool with him. I have also said that with him and Hargam if you have good ground, then Hargam might come out better, though with very soft ground it would be the other way around. Hargam had a gallop with My Tent Or Yours the other day at Kempton (February 12) and they will be going somewhere to work together this weekend.
"There are a lot of horses (at least a dozen) going to work at Kempton on the All-Weather a week today (February 29) like we always do.
"Peace And Co, who has had a cauterised palate operation, is over that and cantering away. He has only just had a run. It is not the ideal preparation but we can get him there. He definitely made a noise at Sandown which we had not experienced before. Forget his first run of the season at Cheltenham - he ran like a headless chicken for a mile - and so Sandown was like his first run in a year. His back was sore - we have been trying to iron out a lot of things in one go. He can get there.
"We thought of running My Tent Or Yours in the Kingwell (Wincanton) but the ground would have been detrimental. We talked about the bounce factor but we have eliminated that by not running him beforehand!
"It is a hell of a shock coming into a race after any lay-off but two years without a run into the Stan James Champion Hurdle is massive - we are realists and we would buy three weeks if we could but we are going to have a go if all is well. We are having to condense things but he is tough and hardy. His gallop at Kempton was ideal and went very well. Can I retire if he wins the Champion Hurdle?
"Peace And Co and My Tent Or Yours are the best two horses of mine in the Champion Hurdle, while Hargam and Top Notch are both very good and not just there to make up numbers.
"Anything can happen in the next three weeks before The Festival. If any horse is not able to run at Cheltenham, then that is shattering for an owner who has dreamed of getting there."
Henderson would be happy with one winner at The Festival but is hopeful of having more.
"I know it's not an ideal prep, only one run before it, but I think probably plenty of horses have done that in the past when you actually think about it," Mullins told At The Races.
"If she was to go for a Champion Hurdle, this is probably the year she should have a crack at it.
"She should probably be going to Aintree for the Aintree Hurdle, I think that is more her race, leaving the others to Cheltenham.
"I don't think she's suitable for the World Hurdle so it's just a straight call between the Champion and the Mares', with Vroum Vroum Mag a possible for that in the same ownership. If we want to give Annie Power a shot at it, this looks the year to do it.
"We'll decide about a hood nearer the day. I thought she settled well, but obviously she was giving Ruby (Walsh) a huge feel which is a good thing. She wears it at home when she's fresh and well.
"I'm hoping to get plenty of work into her before Cheltenham, so she might not need it. I don't think she will in a race like the Champion Hurdle."
"I know it's not an ideal prep, only one run before it, but I think probably plenty of horses have done that in the past when you actually think about it," Mullins told At The Races.
"If she was to go for a Champion Hurdle, this is probably the year she should have a crack at it.
"She should probably be going to Aintree for the Aintree Hurdle, I think that is more her race, leaving the others to Cheltenham.
"I don't think she's suitable for the World Hurdle so it's just a straight call between the Champion and the Mares', with Vroum Vroum Mag a possible for that in the same ownership. If we want to give Annie Power a shot at it, this looks the year to do it.
"We'll decide about a hood nearer the day. I thought she settled well, but obviously she was giving Ruby (Walsh) a huge feel which is a good thing. She wears it at home when she's fresh and well.
"I'm hoping to get plenty of work into her before Cheltenham, so she might not need it. I don't think she will in a race like the Champion Hurdle."
Mullins said: "Arctic Fire worked this morning, after which we found out he had a chip on a sesamoid bone.
"We don't yet know whether it will have to be removed or not but I suspect it will. It's likely to leave him out of action for about 12 weeks, which means he'll miss the rest of the season.
"Obviously it's very frustrating, but just as was the case with Faugheen, it is not a career-threatening injury, so we have to look on the bright side."
The next couple of weeks looks like dryish weather. If there is any signs of forecast rain then I might have a go at Camping Ground. It's whether I gamble on the rain now at 25's, otherwise he will be less than half that price come fest week if the rain comes.
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