Mullins tests new approach

Irish raider Adamant Approach's likely Cheltenham Festival target hinges on his performance in this Saturday's inaugural £100,000 Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot.

His County Carlow handler, Willie Mullins, told Standard Sport last month of his fear that Irish hurdlers are currently weighted at a disadvantage when facing their British counterparts in handicaps.

"The only way to find out if I'm right is to run one in Britain," he said. "Adamant Approach is in good form and, if the Ladbroke were run in Ireland, I'd fancy him."

Irish jockey Ruby Walsh rides the horse this Saturday, provided he can do "near enough" the allotted weight of 10st 3lb. Mullins also has Newbury's Tote Gold Trophy on 9 February and either the County Handicap Hurdle or Gerrard Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in mind for Adamant Approach.

"The novices' event at the Festival would look most appealing if Adamant Approach was well beaten on Saturday. But in that scenario, I'd be putting my case to the Irish and British handicappers to realign their ratings," he added.