Yorkhill was ridden today as if stamina wasn’t an issue......or that they were determined to find out if it was.
Either way, he wouldn’t have been ridden the way he was, imo, if there were any concerns about his fitness, and I’d be prepared to take Mullins at face-value, insofar as future trips are concerned i.e. significantly dropped back in distance.
Options for a Festival prep over fences seem limited, as the Kinloch Brae, Ascot Chase, Red Mills (all 2m4f), and the Tied Cottage (2m) are all on right-handed courses. I can’t see where he can run beforehand over fences, and they might stick him in the ICH, allowing Faugheen to go to Cheltenham a fresh horse.