Mr Mulligan trying his luck again

Greg Wood advises caution today with the reappearance of a jumping wizard

It is just another of the great attractions of National Hunt racing that while the Flat season tends to progress from one midweek festival to the next, the best of the pre-Cheltenham jumping is confined to weekends and holidays, and is thus far more accessible for ordinary punters. It also feels as if each passing Saturday is better than the last, and today's outstanding assortment of contests from Sandown and Chepstow offer stimulation for both heart and mind.

The grey matter cannot fail to be intrigued by the William Hill Handicap Hurdle at Sandown, which is by some way the best race of its kind so far this season, but it is the seasonal debut of Mr Mulligan in the Rehearsal Chase at Chepstow which will tug at the emotional strings. Even in the rich history of the Cheltenham Festival, there have been few more gallant performances in defeat than that of Mr Mulligan, the runner-up to Nahthen Lad, in the Sun Alliance Chase nine months ago.

Having proved himself a brilliant front-runner in Ascot's Reynoldstown Chase, Mr Mulligan clouted the first and fifth fences at Cheltenham and dropped back almost to last place, but still fought his way back to lead on the turn for home until his strength finally deserted him approaching the last.

The question today, as Mr Mulligan attempts to give weight to such promising chasers as Trying Again and Belmont King, is whether that exhausting afternoon will prove to have left its mark, but Noel Chance, his trainer, is in little doubt that his runner is ready, both mentally and physically.

"If he were a five-year-old I would certainly be worried," Chance said yesterday, "but the fact that he's nine means it doesn't worry me too much because he's showing me a nice little bit at home. If a situation arises like the one at Cheltenham, obviously that's going to unnerve any horse, but if he can pop the first two or three he'll get a bit of confidence, and everything's about confidence, really."

Mr Mulligan's jumping occasionally betrayed his inexperience last season, but this too may now be behind him. "He's got a lot stronger and he's in great shape," Chance said. "Mick Fitzgerald rode him last week and he said he's matured so much its unbelievable. He jumped from fence to fence, and when he went into one dead wrong he just winged it."

Given that the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day is Mr Mulligan's target, however, he is perhaps best watched today, while those for whom a bet is essential could do worse than oppose him with Trying Again (2.20), who is race-fit and gets 15lb from Chance's runner.

Caution is also advised in the handicap chase at Chepstow, but in the handicap hurdle Kingdom Of Shades (next best 1.15), who should improve for this step up in trip, is well worth an interest.

The bookmakers got their first result in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle as early as yesterday morning, when 15 runners were declared and hopes of a fourth-place payout on each-way bets disappeared. They seem likely to get their second with the defeat of Teinein, who is laughably short in the betting given that he has simply beaten exposed and out-of-shape horses on his two starts this season. He is far from certain to enjoy Sandown's lively surface.

A far better choice is the improving DIRECT ROUTE (nap 3.05), who is at home on a sound surface and excellent value at around 7-1. Earlier on the card, El Don (1.55) must go close in the novice handicap hurdle but the Tingle Creek Chase is not much of a betting medium. Sound Man should follow up last year's success but his form tailed off a little in the spring and he is far from a certainty at the likely short odds.

Channel 4's coverage of the big race at Punchestown (2.05) is a welcome bonus. Imperial Call, the Gold Cup winner, takes on five rivals, including Klairon Davis, the two-mile champion chaser, and Merry Gale. Again, though, watch rather than bet must be the advice.

Amid all these jumping riches, the televising of two all-weather races from Wolver- hampton is hard to take in, though the Wulfrun Stakes is certainly a valuable and well-contested event. Decorated Hero (3.20) is probably the one to back.