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Willie Mullins’ runner could tackle Saturday’s handicap feature
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was an emphatic winner on his latest outing in the handicap sphere at last season’s Punchestown Festival, since which he has contested high-class novice events.
He won at Grade Three level in the Buck House Novice Chase at Punchestown in October before finishing third in the Grade Two Craddockstown at the same track and fourth in the Grade One Drinmore at Fairyhouse.
The form of the latter race has worked out particularly well, with the first two home – Delta Work and Le Richebourg – both landing top-level prizes at Leopardstown over the festive period.
If given the green light to run this weekend, Cadmium will bid to provide the Supreme Horse Racing Club with another big-race success after Aramon and Kemboy both won Grade One prizes for the successful syndicate at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.
Steve Massey, racing manager for the owners, said: “He ran a really good race in the Drinmore. He was probably a bit unlucky as he got hampered after the first fence and just struggled to get back into it.
“Two and a half miles probably stretches him a bit as well, so coming back to two miles will suit him.
“The ground is good to yielding and it doesn’t look like there’s much rain forecast, so it looks like conditions will be in his favour.
“It’s a valuable and prestigious race, so it’s not going to be easy, but he’s in good form and hopefully he’ll go there with a good chance.
“He’s given his owners plenty of fun so far and hopefully there’s more to come.”
Cadmium is one of 16 horses still in contention for the 100,000 euro contest following Tuesday’s confirmation stage, with Mullins also leaving in the JP McManus-owned Blazer.
The weights are headed by Pat Fahy’s Castlegrace Paddy, while Gordon Elliott – who has won this race in each of last two seasons with Ball D’Arc and Doctor Phoenix – has a six-strong squad made up of A Toi Phil, Duca De Thaix, Tycoon Prince, Cubomania, Mitchouka and Sunsetstorise.
