“It’s getting quite late in the season and I can’t see myself entering him in the next 14 days,” he told At The Races. Everything is still left open with him. The fact the horse has so much experience is a big thing but if I can get him out before Cheltenham, he could go.”

The County Carlow trainer is also up against the clock to get Hurricane Fly ready for the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle following a suspensory ligament injury. The six-year-old went into the summer as the ante-post favourite for the championship event after an emphatic victory at the Punchestown Festival. However, he suffered a surprise reverse on his only start this campaign when third to Solwhit back at Punchestown in November.

“He’s just making type of progress we’d expect him to make,” Mullins added.

“It would be very tough going to get him to Cheltenham.”

Head of PR Charlie McCann:”The step up in trip to 2m 4f for Manyriverstocross looked the key to this improved run, and we have taken him out of the betting for the Supreme Novices’ despite his trainer suggesting he will get an entry for the Festival opener.”

Ballymore Novice Hurdle 2010 ~ Outright Ante Post, (place terms: 1/4 the first 3)

12 Quantitativeeasing
12 Manyriverstocross
14 Rite Of Passage
16 Finians Rainbow
16 Quel Esprit
16 Some Present
16 Royal Charm
16 Ghizao
16 Tell Massini
20 Bar