A POTENTIAL Willie Mullins superstar horse looks so good he is being tipped to ‘become a household name’.
Already dubbed the ‘future Triumph Hurdle winner‘ by punters, French recruit Proactif certainly looks the part.
He won the prestigious Prix Finot (Poulains) at Auteuil in September and was promptly bought by JP McManus.
A three-year-old turning four, Proactif appeals as the idea type for the Grade 1 for juveniles on the final day of Cheltenham Festival.
Especially given Mullins has won it with top French four-year-olds such as Majborough, Lossiemouth and Vauban in recent years.
Proactif has arrived at Closutton with the new jumps season underway and is already 14-1 for the Triumph.
Racing expert Mark Howard picked him out in a Sporting Life article highlighting some of the lesser-known names at Mullins’ HQ.
And he said the horse – purchased for a ‘hefty six-figure sum’ – has all the attributes to be a horse for years to come.
He wrote: “Ireland’s champion trainer was reportedly quick off the mark and secured the gelding for a hefty six-figure sum from a stable who have supplied him with some top-class ammunition in recent years, namely Majborough and State Man.
“A big, scopey individual, he could be very smart and develop into a household name.
“Expect him to make his Irish debut in a Graded contest after Christmas before a tilt at the Triumph Hurdle.”
While pretty much every trainer can be jealous at the weapons in Mullins’ yard, he revealed yesterday it hasn’t all been easy.
Mullins said the biggest name of the lot, two-time Gold Cup winner Galopin Des Champs, had suffered a ‘small setback’.
That pushed his schedule of work back a couple of weeks and means he may not make his intended return in the John Durkan Chase at Punchestown next month.
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