News Willie Mullins hands Gitane Du Berlais Carlisle assignment

Willie Mullins hands Gitane Du Berlais Carlisle assignment

racing

Willie Mullins saddles a rare runner at Carlisle on Sunday when Gitane Du Berlais contests the Apollobet Mares' Chase.

Willie Mullins saddles a rare runner at Carlisle on Sunday when Gitane Du Berlais contests the Apollobet Mares' Chase.

A Grade One winner last season at Sandown, the five-year-old is on her travels due to a lack of opportunities in Ireland and appears to have been found a good opportunity to get back to winning ways with Kim Bailey's Emily Gray the only other mare rated remotely in the same parish.

Anthony Bromley, racing manager to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede, said: "Gitane Du Berlais isn't the easiest horse to place as she isn't eligible for the mares' races in Ireland as they are predominantly for EBF qualified entries.

"She also has a penalty for that Grade One win at Sandown and is pretty high in the handicap, so overall this is a good engagement for her.

"They hassled her for the lead at Punchestown last time and although she managed to see off the runners that took her on, it set things up for Willie's other two entries that had been held up. However, she also needed that outing and it should have put her spot on for this.

"She's a winner on heavy ground in Ireland and France so testing conditions shouldn't be a problem and Daryl Jacob was on board when she scored at Sandown on soft and will be reunited with her, so there are plenty of plus points."