Hopes high for Sober-ing outcome at Punchestown

Royal Ascot hero Sober returns to the jumping game in a bid to provide Willie Mullins with a 12th victory in the Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday.

The Grade Two contest has a glittering roll of honour, with Closutton stars like Mikael d’Haguenet (2009), Vautour (2014), Douvan (2015), Min (2016) and last year’s winner Salvator Mundi among the previous winners.

A dual Group Two winner on the Flat for Andre Fabre, Sober made a successful hurdling debut at Killarney in May before reverting to the level to justify odds-on favouritism in the Queen Alexandra Stakes at the royal meeting in June.

The champion trainer’s assistant, David Casey, said: “He hasn’t run since Ascot so we’ll see how he gets on. He seems in good order.

“He’s working well and is a good horse. Hopefully he’ll run well.”

Mullins also saddles Free Spirit, who makes his stable debut having won on his second and most recent start over hurdles in France.

“He’s a nice horse, but has only had the two runs over hurdles. He has no Flat experience or bumper experience,” Casey added.

“He’s learning the whole time, and I think he’ll run well, too.”

Gordon Elliott runs dual winner Road Exile, with the field completed by Denis Hogan’s Frankie John, although he would appear unlikely to line up having finish fifth in the Ballymore Novice Hurdle at Naas on Friday.

Casey said: “It’s a disappointing turnout for the race and we need to support it.”