Willie Mullins has his hopes pinned on a late change of heart by the British government that might allow amateur jockeys such as his son, Patrick, to compete at the Cheltenham Festival next month. While the trainer hopes to bring his usual strong team of runners to the race meeting, despite the twin problems of Brexit and Covid-19, his team of jockeys is not at its strongest, following the ban on amateurs and the recent surprise retirement of his nephew David. “It was another surprise,” the top Irish trainer said of the news that amateur jockeys cannot compete in British racing for the time being. “But we’re getting used to those in these pandemic times. “I’m hoping that something can be done because we have six weeks to go before then. Hopefully, the figures on both sides of the Irish Sea will be better and governments will be looking at things differently. That’s the best we can hope for at this stage. “Certainly, Patrick would be a top member on our team riding at Cheltenham. “He’d have half a dozen nice rides, especially with David retiring, that puts him in for a lot more. He’s a top guy to have on your team over there.” Patrick Mullins has four Festival wins to his name, most recently aboard Rathvinden in the National Hunt Chase of 2018. He had a frustrating time at the Festival last year, finishing runner-up four times, including aboard Melon who was beaten a nose by Samcro in the Marsh Novice Chase. “It’s very unfair on the top English amateurs, too,” Mullins Sr said. “There’s some guys there, Sam Waley-Cohen and Will Biddick, who finished second to Patrick in the four-mile chase there a few years ago. There’s some top amateurs there and they look forward to Cheltenham like everyone else does. “I haven’t fully read through the protocol that is ongoing to keep them out because I feel that maybe the thing might shift about in a month’s time or six weeks’ time and there might be a chance they might get back to ride in the Festival. “But I’m sure Patrick and the other amateurs will be doing their best and we’ll be doing our best to help.” Asked if he expected to have a smaller, more select team of runners in view of the travel difficulties facing runners from Ireland at the Festival this year, Mullins replied: “I hope not. We’re making arrangements to have things in place, ready to bring our usual team. But until we see what rules and regulations are going to be in play, all we can do is prepare to do the usual stuff. “The shipping side I’m leaving to my brother [George], he’s well capable of all that. I tend not to get too bogged down in it because the whole scenario could change in a month’s time or six weeks’ time. At least that’s what we hope, anyhow.” Mullins was speaking at an online press conference to promote this weekend’s Dublin Racing Festival, at which he will field favourites in several top-class races, including Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase on Saturday. Amateur jockeys were ruled out of competition a fortnight ago, as racing’s rulers moved to comply with the latest government guidance on control of Covid-19. Amateurs are regarded as part of grassroots sport and do not therefore benefit from the permission to continue that elite sport enjoys. Tuesday’s best bets One of the most impressive details about this quiet day’s racing is that connections of Punxsutawney Phil have somehow arranged for him, a horse named after a groundhog, to make his racecourse debut ON GROUNDHOG DAY. I wonder how long Brian Ellison and Dan Gilbert have been plotting this. On pedigree, he has a winning chance in Newcastle’s opener. Not That Fuisse is a short price again, having got turned over at odds-on in a similar race a fortnight ago. Burbank (3.25) is higher rated over fences and travelled well on his way to winning over this course and distance recently. Giving 6lb to most of these requires more, but it looked like there was more in the locker. He’s 9-2. I expected more support for Forest Bihan (3.55), a 15-2 shot with a touch of class who was odds-on when winning a similar race here three years ago, his only previous try on an all-weather surface. Proschema won here a fortnight ago but has to give Forest Bihan 6lb as a result and the latter has a Flat-race jockey, which could make a difference.