Mullins weighs up Cape Gentleman options after win

Emmet Mullins says Cape Gentleman has plenty of options for the spring – including Cheltenham – after winning on his hurdling debut at Punchestown.

Cape Gentleman won the Irish Cesarewitch in October but the four-year-old has now switched to hurdles and impressed at Punchestown on Tuesday.

Mullins’ charge took the Gift A Donation This Year Maiden Hurdle and will now be aimed at bigger and better races later in the season, with a trip to the Cheltenham Festival in March not out of the equation.

“That was great – it was great to get him on the board on his first run over hurdles,” Mullins said on Sky Sports. “We’ll have a look at the programme book now. He’s hopefully a horse to look forward to in the spring.”

Mullins admitted after the victory he had been uncertain if Cape Gentleman would cope with the heavy conditions but he was pleasantly surprised and he will take his time to assess where he will head next.

He added: “I was very sceptical if he’d handle the heavy, winter ground today. I had a Leopardstown maiden hurdle at Christmas in the back of my head, but that’s knocked on the head now.

“I’m not sure where we’ll go now, but we’ll look at a step up in grade and he should be able to cope with it.”