Willie Mullins will be responsible for half of the field when saddling six runners in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and hopes are predictably high for a record-extending eighth success in the Cheltenham Festival curtain raiser.

The Closutton maestro first struck with Tourist Attraction way back in 1995 and has since prevailed with Ebaziyan, Champagne Fever, Vautour, Douvan, Klassical Dream and Appreciate It.

This year’s challenge is expected to be headed by Tullyhill, who was beaten at long odds-on when making his jumping debut in late November but has since posted a couple of impressive victories.

Mystical Power, a son of the great Galileo and former Champion Hurdle star Annie Power, is also at the head of the betting after winning the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle at Punchestown by seven lengths.

French import Mistergif romped home by 18 lengths on his first start for Mullins at Limerick, while outsiders Asian Master, Gold Dancer and Supersundae complete the strong stable squad.

“I’m very happy with how all the team have travelled and arrived here, they’re all in good order,” said Mullins.

“Tullyhill disappointed with his jumping on his first run, but we got that sorted out and now he’s showing his true colours.

“Mystical Power has surprised us, his pedigree is starting to come out. At home, he doesn’t show that sort of form, but when he gets to the racetrack he’s a different beast.

“I just thought after what he’s shown us on the track, it was an easy decision to go for the two-mile race.”

A powerful raiding party from Ireland is further bolstered by Gordon Elliott’s Firefox, who was below par in Grade One company at Naas last time out but had previously enjoyed smooth successes at Down Royal and Fairyhouse, where he notably got the better of Ballyburn.

Elliott said: “I think the trip will suit him, he looks in good form and we’re very happy with him.

“He was obviously disappointing the last day, but you can put a line through that – he didn’t scope right and was lame after the race. He’s in good form now and we’re looking forward to running him.”

Henry de Bromhead sends over Navan Grade Two scorer Slade Steel and has opted to go for this two-mile contest in order to avoid facing last month’s Leopardstown conqueror Ballyburn.

“He’s done little wrong, we’re happy with him and he seems in good form,” commented the Waterford trainer.

“He seems pretty adaptable (trip-wise) and I suppose Ballyburn has beaten us a couple of times, so we said we’d take that view (of avoiding another clash) and that’s what we’re doing.”

Jeriko Du Reponet is rated the most likely home winner, with Nicky Henderson seeking to strike for the third time in five years after recent triumphs for Shishkin and Constitution Hill.

This five-year-old attracted strong ante-post support following two facile victories at Newbury and retained his unbeaten status when seeing off subsequent Dovecote scorer Lump Sum in the rearranged Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle at Doncaster, albeit in a more workmanlike manner.

Henderson told Unibet: “He is unbeaten and ever since he arrived at Seven Barrows, this race was always where we wanted to end up.

“While he may not have looked visually impressive at Doncaster last time, the race wasn’t run to suit, but has subsequently worked out very well – and there is likely to be much more pace on here, which will play to his strengths.

“Obviously, the Irish squad will be very hard to beat, but I rather fear Jeriko may be the slightly forgotten horse and I’m very much looking forward to it.”

Ben Pauling’s Tellherthename bounced back from being pulled up on testing ground at Aintree over Christmas by securing a 14-length success at Huntingdon and connections insist he is not heading to Cheltenham just to make up the numbers.

“I’ve been delighted with him and we’re very excited,” said Pauling. “Touch wood and fingers crossed, we’ve got him there in great form and his preparations have gone well to date.

“He schooled well last Thursday and it’s just exciting to have one in the Supreme with a chance.”

Favour And Fortune has some solid form in the book, prevailing at Hereford and Wetherby before chasing home Jango Baie in the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Liverpool and then finishing a close second to Mullins raider Fun Fun Fun at Exeter, although Alan King would rather be racing on a sounder surface.

He said: “I would prefer it if the rain didn’t arrive. He will be a much better horse on better ground. I promise you, the more the ground dries, the better his chance will be.

“I’m amazed he has done as well on the ground we have raced him on the last twice and Aintree was very tough and the same at Exeter. He’s such a good-actioned horse and he’s running well despite the ground.

“I bet he’s a 10lb better horse on decent ground – it was good to firm on his hurdles debut at Hereford and he loved that. I think it’s his class that keeps him in it on the testing ground.”

The field is completed by Irish longshot Kings Hill, who picked up a Thurles maiden win for Galway handler Paul Gilligan last month.

Willie Mullins has confirmed the newly-named Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle as Ballyburn’s Cheltenham Festival target, with Mystical Power and Tullyhill both bound for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Beaten by Firefox on his hurdling debut at Fairyhouse in December, Ballyburn subsequently bolted up over two and a half miles at Leopardstown before successfully reverting to two miles to strike Grade One gold at last month’s Dublin Racing Festival.

The six-year-old has been at the head of ante-post lists for both the Supreme and the Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle since that latter triumph and Mullins moved to clarify running plans on Thursday.

“Mystical Power will run in the Sky Bet Supreme and Ballyburn, all being well, will run in the Baring Bingham (Gallagher Novices’ Hurdle),” he told Sportinglife.com.

“Paul Townend will probably ride Tullyhill in the Supreme.”

Mystical Power, a son of Galileo out of Champion Hurdle-winning mare Annie Power, is two from two over hurdles and looks likely to be partnered by Mark Walsh, retained jockey for part-owner JP McManus.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned Tullyhill was beaten at 1-8 on his hurdling debut, but has since registered two wide-margin wins at Naas and Punchestown respectively.

Tullyhill could be bound for Cheltenham after making light work of the Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle at Punchestown.

The six-year-old finished second in the Champion Bumper at the Festival last season, a result that followed a prior bumper success and a point to point win.

He was beaten by a significant margin on his hurdling debut in November but his jumping was much improved on his next start when he took a Naas maiden by seven lengths in January.

He started as the 6-5 favourite under Paul Townend at Listed level at Punchestown and made all the of the running, cruising to a nine-length victory having barely seen another rival.

Following the run, Tullyhill is as low as 5-1 for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle with Paddy Power, but Mullins will consult with owners Cheveley Park Stud before deciding on a Cheltenham bid.

He said: “He has a fair engine and we just needed to give him confidence jumping. David Casey was deputised with that job and has done a right job.

“He’s entitled to go anywhere after a performance like that.

“I thought he’d be an out-an-out stayer but he has plenty of speed, a great cruising speed, and now his jumping is starting to match his cruising speed.

“He’s in the Supreme and I’ll have a word with connections and see what they would like to do.”