‘This could be the ultimate experience – to go around there on a horse like Chacun Pour Soi’

Mullins so excited as he prepares for Sandown debut

PATRICK MULLINS said it was like getting behind the wheel of a Bentley when he worked Chacun Pour Soi at the Curragh on Tuesday.

Not only will this be the recordbreaking amateur’s first public ride on Chacun Pour Soi, but it will be his first time riding at Sandown too.

Mullins (right) said: “This is what it’s all about. I’ve never ridden around Sandown but I’ve always wanted to

ride there and this could be the ultimate experience – to go around there on a horse like Chacun Pour Soi.

“I sat on him for the first time on Tuesday at the Curragh and he worked very well. It was like sitting in a Bentley, he’s just a fantastic ride.”

Chacun Pour Soi is generally a 6-1 shot for the Betway Champion

Chase at Cheltenham, a race he was 8-13 to win last season but could manage only third having traded at a low of 1.15 in running. He is officially 8lb better than anything else in the race, but will he be at his peak first time out on ground that will be quicker than ideal?

Mullins added: “We’re very happy with him. Dermot Keeling, who rides him out, is very happy with him and I got a great feel off him on Tuesday. Look, he’s going there against horses who have had a run, so that would be a slight concern.

“The ground should be okay. We’ll have a look at it when we get over there, but we’re very, very happy with him.”

Chacun Pour Soi’s trainer Willie Mullins is trying to win the Tingle Creek for a second time. His first success arrived in 2016 when Un De Sceaux fought back bravely under Ruby Walsh to beat Sire De Grugy in a thriller.