WILLIE MULLINS has seen his plans for the eagerly awaited return of one of his top horses hit by a yellow weather warning.
Officials at Navan racecourse are ‘monitoring the situation’ amid the potential for huge downpours at the Irish venue.
It comes as Cheltenham takes a battering from Storm Claudia for the first day of their prestigious November Meeting.
Up to 20mm of rain is expected to hit Prestbury Park this afternoon, where Jonbon takes centre stage in the feature Shloer Chase.
Mullins – who just this week confirmed former Champion Hurdle king State Man is out for the season – is all set to saddle awesome Supreme Novices’ Hurdles winner Kopek Des Bordes in a beginners’ chase on Saturday.
The superstar five-year-old is 2-5 to kick-start his career over fences with victory.
Paul Townend takes the ride on what should prove the first step on the journey to the Arkle in March.
But Mullins and Kopek’s owners will be praying the worst of the rain stays away ahead of his comeback.
A Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board statement read: “Following 7mm of rain in the last 24 hrs, @NavanRacecourse (Saturday/Sunday) remains soft to heavy.
“Status Yellow rain warning in place for the next 24hrs with possibility of 15-20mm (approx) of rain.
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“Fresh ground on hurdle track Sunday. Situation being monitored.”
Mullins has declared a number of his big guns for Navan.
Also on the list is current 5-2 ante-post Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase favourite Final Demand.
While Grand National fancy Quai De Bourbon is in the star-studded Troytown Chase.
They both run on Sunday alongside Rich Ricci’s promising new Riskabahia and novice hurdler Eclipse Chaser.
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