David Casey: Mighty Park definitely has the pace for the Supreme

Willie Mullins’ assistant trainer David Casey has insisted that Mighty Park has more than enough speed to run a big race in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. Speaking with Barry Geraghty and Jane Mangan on the latest episode of William Hill’s Inside Track: Ireland

Casey was pressed on JP McManus’ much-debated novice hurdler and gave a strong vote of confidence for his Supreme chances.

“Mighty Park is a very good horse,” Casey said. “Prior to his run at Fairyhouse, Mark [Walsh] has had ridden him at home and said he’d loads of pace and got a good feel off him, but when he got off him in Fairyhouse, he couldn’t explain it. He said he felt like he was doing a hack canter at all stages and when he turned around, they were a mile behind. He gave him an awesome feel, and he’s done nothing to dispel that since. We are really looking forward to him. 

“He has always shown the right things at home and has been very professional in everything he’s done since he’s arrived here. I rode him in work before Christmas and I expected him to be a bit green and sluggish, but he came up behind a fast horse and went with him well. I got off him and said to Willie how much pace he had – he’s a fair tool. Willie said he’d been catching his eye and thought he might be his Champion Bumper horse for the year, but he jumps well and the (JP McManus) team wanted to go jumping with him. 

“He missed his run at Christmas which wasn’t ideal but ran a few weeks after and put up a huge performance. It probably wasn’t the strongest of races but to do what he did was impressive. He has enough pace for the Supreme and he’s a big player.”

While it looks a wide-open Supreme, there was another Mullins-trained hope who’s particularly caught Casey’s eye. Leader D’Allier, a general 14-1 shot for the Festival opener, is highly regarded by Casey, and he expects him to outrun his odds come Cheltenham. 

He said: “One horse I think will go to the Supreme slightly under the radar is Leader D’Allier. His owner Michael Burke has Saint Baco in the Turners, they will be split up and Saint Baco is likely a two-and-a-half-mile horse, so I think Leader D’Allier will go to the Supreme. 

“We were disappointed with him at Christmas, we couldn’t believe he ran so bad but when I say he ran bad, he still finished second to an impressive horse in Ballyfad who’s been touched off in a Grade One since. Leader D’Allier won really impressively in Punchestown since and has improved again, we think he is a real good horse who will outrun his odds.”