Sunday Racing Tips: Mullins recruit to get off the mark over hurdles

Jump racing holds sway across Britain and Ireland on Sunday with two meetings taking place across the afternoon, firstly at Naas in Ireland before they also go to post at Hereford.

Amongst our Sunday fancies is one for trainer Willie Mullins who has a beautiful pedigree and can get off to a winning start in Ireland.

13:55 Naas - Tounsivator @ 9/4

A field of 25 runners are set to go to post for the 2m maiden hurdle, but if market vibes speak favourably for Willie Mullins' Tounsivator, the rest could be playing for the runner-up spot.

This lad has a lovely pedigree being a son of Derby winner Motivator and he was successful in a 1m4f Toulouse handicap and a 1m3f handicap at Lyon Parilly in 2022 when trained by Jérôme Reynier on the Flat in France.

He is a very tall individual, so he certainly has the size for hurdling and Mullins did very well with another of Motivator's offspring courtesy of Stormy Ireland, who won the Grade 1 Mares' Champion Hurdle at Punchestown in 2021.

Tounsivator has been off the track since April 2022, so fitness will have to be taken on trust, but Mullins has found a rather weak maiden hurdle for his Irish and hurdling debut.

16:25 Naas - Wingmen @ 11/10

Wingmen sold for a new Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale record when being purchased for £250,000 in January 2023 off the back of a 12-length victory in a Ballycrystal point.

Now with Gordon Elliott, the son of Kayf Tara created a lovely impression when bolting up in his bumper at Naas in December.

Despite running with the choke out for the majority of the race and looking under pressure two furlongs out, he rallied gamely and hit the line hard to win by eight lengths under Harry Swan.

Elliott has farmed this bumper in recent years, winning the last four renewals, and the race has been won by some really smart types, including Gerri Colombe, Carefully Selected, Killultagh Vic and Outlander. Wingmen could be another star in waiting.

16:40 Hereford - Jack Sprat @ 11/2

Last but certainly not least, we move across the water to Hereford, where Jack Sprat holds strong credentials in the 2m5½f handicap hurdle for trainer Jamie Snowden, with Gavin Sheehan in the saddle.

Testing conditions are forecast, so it bodes well that the six-year-old son of Walk In The Park ran a blinder on heavy ground when runner-up over 2m4f at Uttoxeter on his penultimate start in December.

He again ran with plenty of credit when a staying-on fourth at Huntingdon when last seen under a very patient ride, but hopefully we will see a change of tactics with him on this occasion.

Jack Sprat's sole victory to date came at Huntingdon in November, but interestingly he was given a much more forceful ride that day. If Sheehan can get him up with the leaders early doors and keep tabs on them, his stamina should kick in late on.