WILLIE MULLINS has issued a worrying update on one of his biggest Cheltenham Festival stars, admitting: “He hasn’t been himself.”
El Fabiolo was unbeatable in his novice chase season, smashing Jonbon by five lengths en route to winning the Arkle.
The Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned monster then took Punchestown’s 2m Grade novice chase by 11 lengths the following month before recording two further wins.
But his 2-9 Champion Chase flop was one of the biggest shocks in years at Cheltenham.
And he was put in his place by Jonbon when they had a rematch at Sandown in their big Celebration Chase last April.
El Fabiolo, who has earnings of almost £500,000, hasn’t been seen on a racecourse since.
He is a best-price 12-1 for this year’s Champion Chase and 8-1 for the Ryanair.
But Mullins admitted during a stable visit that he hasn’t been wowed by his former star chaser in recent weeks.
And he said though El Fabiolo has an entry at next weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, he needs to show more at home to convince his boss he can win at the top level again.
Mullins said: “He did a nice piece of work yesterday but he hasn’t been himself.
“He’s been a little more difficult to train.
“I hope to get a run into him at the DRF and we could still get a Grade 1 performance out of him.”
[bc_video account_id=”5067014667001″ application_id=”” aspect_ratio=”16:9″ autoplay=”” caption=”Willie Mullins gives verdict on ’embarrassing’ changes to the Cheltenham Festival” embed=”in-page” experience_id=”” height=”100%” language_detection=”” max_height=”360px” max_width=”640px” min_width=”0px” mute=”” padding_top=”56%” picture_in_picture=”” player_id=”default” playlist_id=”” playsinline=”” sizing=”responsive” video_id=”6362554705112″ video_ids=”” width=”640px”]Mullins has two shorter in the betting for the Champion Chase in the shape of Gaelic Warrior and Energumene.
But the latter was hammered by Champion Chase favourite Jonbon last weekend.
And Gaelic Warrior needs to show more than when finishing runner-up to shock 28-1 Paddy’s Rewards Chase winner Solness last time out.
Meanwhile, if Fact To File is hammered by Galopin Des Champs in next month’s Irish Gold Cup then he could be Ryanair-bound.