Willie Mullins ‘Pulls the Strings’ by Withdrawing Horse from Cheltenham Festival Race

WILLIE MULLINS ‘had the world on strings’ as he pulled a much-hyped horse out of a Cheltenham Festival race.

French import Fou De Toi was bought by Joe and Marie Donnelly of Sir Gino and Lulamba fame after his debut last May.

Willie Mullins did some hokey cokey with the much-hyped Fou De ToiCredit: PA

Not seen since, Mullins had added to the intrigue surrounding the five-year-old with some .

Available at around 16-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, the Closutton boss took his time entering him but duly did.

Only to pull him out of the race again before the noon cut-off.

Some declared ‘the dream is dead’ after seeing that, while another X user said Mullins ‘had the world on strings’ over the horse’s future.

However, there is still a chance the son of Motivator could run at the Festival after he was left in the Turners Novices’ Hurdle over 2m5f.

Interestingly, he can still be backed for that at as big as 33-1 at the time of writing.

Should Mullins change his mind and want to add Fou De Toi to the Supreme market then he can supplement him on Wednesday, March 4.

More to follow.

Willie Mullins’ Cheltenham Festival entries for the novice races

Supreme Novices’ Hurdle

Davy Crockett
Free Spirit
He’s On Fire
King Rasko Grey
Laurets d’Estruval
Le Divin Enfant
Leader d’Allier
Macho Man
Mighty Park
Proactif
Saint Baco
Sober
Sortudo
The Reverend
Too Bossy For Us
You Proof

Arkle Novices’ Chase

Kappa Jy Pyke
Kargese
Kopek Des Bordes
Port Joulain
Salvator Mundi

Turners Novices’ Hurdle

Bon Viveur
Doctor Steinberg
Doctor du Mesnil
Espresso Milan
Fou de Toi
Free Spirit
He’s On Fire
Hipop de Loire
King Rasko Grey
Laurets d’Estruval
Leader d’Allier
Love Me Tender
Mighty Park
Petit Secret
Saint Baco
Sober
Sortudo
The Reverend
Too Bossy For Us
You Proof

Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase

Argento Boy
Ballygunner Castle
Final Demand
Funiculi Funicula
Gold Dancer
Jade De Grugy
Jimmy Du Seuil
Joystick
Kaid D’Authie
Kappa Jy Pyke
King Alexander
Kiss Will
Kitzbuhel
O’Moore Park
Port Joulain
Predators Gold

Triumph Hurdle

Apolon de Charnie
Beauvallon
Bertutea
Charme de Faust
Dschingis Desire
Forty Fifty
Kai Lung
Macho Man
Madness d’Elle
Majolique
Minella Academy
Mon Creuset
Moulin Labbe
Narciso Has
Noemie de La Vis
Portnahapple
Proactif
Quinteplus
Selma de Vary

Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

Bon Viveur
Doctor Steinberg
Doctor du Mesnil
Espresso Milan
Hipop de Loire
Laurets d’Estruval
Leader d’Allier
Love Me Tender
Saint Baco
Sortudo
You Proof

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chases their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our .