‘Massive’ Willie Mullins favourite switches Cheltenham Festival races at last minute

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A ‘MASSIVE’ Willie Mullins Cheltenham favourite has switched races at the last minute.

Awesome Dublin Racing Festival winner Final Demand was quickly made favourite for Friday’s Albert Bartlett when owner Bryan Drew flouted the idea of him running there given the drying ground conditions at the track.

Owner Bryan Drew with his winning horse, Final Demand.
Final Demand will run in the Turners instead of the Albert Bartlett after Willie Mullins made a late switch

At 6-4 he was miles ahead of 10-3 The Yellow Clay and Henry de Bromhead’s 4-1 mare The Big Westerner for the 3m race.

Final Demand was always second fav for Wednesday’s Turners Novices’ Hurdle but that’s where Mullins has decided to run him.

This despite JP McManus’ The New Lion – who he was rumoured to have bought for £1million – being the strong market leader.

Mullins also left it late in the day one declarations when switching Lossiemouth from the Champion Hurdle to the Mares’ Hurdle.

She makes up one leg of the monster four-fold on day one alongside Constitution Hill, Kopek Des Bordes and Majborough, which bookies fear could cost them £50million.

The Dan Skelton-trained The New Lion is 6-4 favourite for the 2m5 Turners following his romp in the Challow Hurdle last December.

Final Demand, who cost £200,000 and jockey Paul Townend described as ‘massive’, is a 7-4 chance while Gordon Elliott’s The Yellow Clay, who was also fancied for the Albert Bartlett, runs in the Turners and is 11-2.

Final Demand, who Drew owns alongside Professor Caroline Tisdall, was breathtaking when he ran last month at Leopardstown.

Mullins said after his 12-length romp: ” I never thought he would have that much and he was probably going better passing the post than at any other stage of the race.

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“To do what he did there on only his second run over hurdles was a huge achievement.

“What he did from the last to the line sets him apart from other horses. He’s a specimen.”

Final Demand has won his two races by a combined 27 lengths but still punters want to be with The New Lion.

Challow Hurdle winners have a poor record at Cheltenham yet he won that Grade 1 with ridiculous ease and is unbeaten in four career starts.