Form key for Wicklow Brave’s Melbourne raid

Willie Mullins has pinpointed the current form of Wicklow Brave as vital in his bid for Melbourne Cup glory.

A Cheltenham Festival winner over hurdles in the past, Wicklow Brave took his Flat form to new heights when he floored odds-on favourite Order Of St George to win the Irish St Leger at the Curragh.

On the back of that run, Wicklow Brave has been confirmed as an intended runner for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 1.

Mullins came perilously close to winning the “race that stops a nation” last year when Frankie Dettori steered Max Dynamite home second behind rank outsider Prince Of Penzance.

Dettori was at his imperious best on Wicklow Brave at the Curragh, with a front-running ride timed to perfection thwarting Aidan O’Brien’s Order Of St George.

Mullins is happy to savour that success and has confirmed his charge to be well after his exertions.

“Wicklow Brave has come through it (Irish Leger) fine and he’s in great form,” said the champion jumps trainer.

“Maybe we caught Order Of St George on the hop, maybe he was ridden over-confidently, I don’t know.

“Our fellow just ran his race, and ran to the line.” Turning his thoughts towards Australia, Mullins has admitted it is a huge positive to have Wicklow Brave in the form of his life leading into the Melbourne Cup.

Having pocketed 228,000 euros for his Irish St Leger win, Mullins says the gelding has earned his shot at another big prize.

“Present form going into the race is worth an awful lot,” he added.

“You can have all the form from last year you want, but present form is worth so much. We won a beautiful race to get there, it pays for everything.”