Mullins sticking with Hurdle plan for Sharjah

Willie Mullins is still eyeing a Champion Hurdle outing for Sharjah at the Cheltenham Festival despite a poor show at Leopardstown.

The seven-year-old was last seen coming out on top at the same venue on December 29 when winning the Grade One Matheson Hurdle.

However, Mullins suggested two quick errors during Saturday’s outing cost Sharjah in the PCI Irish Champion Hurdle and he had to settle for an underwhelming sixth-place finish.

Despite the setback Mullins is still confident that his charge can make a case for himself in next month’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham.

“At the first hurdle down the back he stood way back at it and then he missed the next and did the same thing at the one after that,” he said.

“I thought those two jumps just took whatever chance he had. He put too much effort into jumping those hurdles, normally he doesn’t do that and it’s out of character.

“It wouldn’t look like his run on the form of the race. We’ll go home and see, it’s back to the drawing board with him.

“I’d imagine we’ll probably prepare him now for the Champion Hurdle and take our chance.”

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