Apple’s Jade is the star attraction on the second day of the Winter Festival at Fairyhouse on Sunday where she goes in search of her third victory in the Grade 1 Hatton’s Grace Hurdle.
A field of 11 will face the starter for the €125,000 contest, one of three Grade 1s on a super card that gets underway at 12.35pm (Live on RTÉ2).
Should Apple’s Jade oblige for trainer Gordon Elliott she would join Limestone Lad and Solerina as a three-time winner. Elliott is also represented here with Dortmund Park, Sutton Place and Farclas.
"She's a great bit of stuff - she's won seven Grade Ones. She doesn't owe us too much and whatever she does from now on is a bonus," Elliott told At The Races.
"On ratings she looks like the one to beat. It looks an ideal race for her - she's won around the track twice and she likes going right-handed. She's in great form at home and we couldn't be happier with her."
Ireland’s champion trainer Willie Mullins also has a four-strong entry with Bapaume, Shaneshill, Wicklow Brave and Limini, the choice of Ruby Walsh.
Assistant trainer Patrick Mullins said: "They're four very good horses, but this looks a high-class race. Apple's Jade is in there and Supasundae as well and those two will be hard to beat.
"Hopefully our horses can run well and pick up some prize-money."
Supasundae, who missed the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle, is also in the line up for Moone trainer Jessica Harrington and Early Doors for Piltown handler Joseph O’Brien.
The Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (1.05) has attracted five runners with the unbeaten Commander Of Fleet the pick of the Gordon Elliott duo.
The son of Fame And Glory was mightily impressive on his racecourse debut in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at the Punchestown Festival in the spring and ultimately won comfortably on his hurdling debut at the same track a fortnight ago.
Elliott said: "It's not ideal having to come back to two miles (from two and a half), but it's a Grade One and we have to take our chance.
"I think he's a good horse and he won a Land Rover bumper over two miles. It's not a massive field and he has definitely come on since Punchestown, we're very happy with him.
"We've declared Tintangle, but she only won on Thursday so we'll just have to see how she is," O'Leary added.
Willie Mullins is double-handed in his bid to secure a record eighth victory in the race. It is 20 years since the champion trainer first landed the Grade One prize with Alexander Banquet and it took him another 10 years to double up with the brilliant Hurricane Fly.
However, he has dominated the race in the last decade - scoring with Zaidpour (2010), Sous Les Cieux (2011), Nichols Canyon (2014), Long Dog (2015) and Airlie Beach (2016) - and appears to hold a strong hand once again.
Airlie Beach provided the Supreme Horse Racing Club with its first and only top-level success to date when triumphing two years ago and the successful syndicate - who will be bidding for compensation following Kemboy's withdrawal from Saturday's Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury due to travel problems - have another leading contender in Aramon.
The German import has won two of his three starts since arriving in Ireland, most recently running out an impressive winner of the For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan three weeks ago. Paul Townend keeps the ride.
Patrick Mullins, assistant to his father, said: "Aramon won very well in Navan and we've been happy with him since. He's a horse that works well at home and we're expecting a big run from him."
"Quick Grabim had to carry a penalty in Navan and obviously he doesn't on Sunday, with it being a Grade One.
"He also made a mistake at the second-last that day, so I think we can draw a line through that and I'd be expecting a much improved performance."
The Drinmore Novice Chase (1.35) has attracted another quality field of 11 including Le Richebourg, unbeaten in two starts over fences for Joseph O'Brien.
The JP McManus-owned five-year-old mixed it with the best in the novice hurdling division last season and was fifth in the Galway Hurdle on his most recent outing over the smaller obstacles.
He made a smart start to his chasing career at Listowel in September and after following up in impressive style in a Tipperary Grade Three, he is well fancied to complete the hat-trick when stepping up to Grade One level on Sunday.
"His couple of runs over fences have been very good. Obviously he's been running on nice ground, which he seems to handle quite well," said O'Brien, who has his string in tremendous form.
"He's well since his win in Tipperary and this has been the plan since then. A lot of people are waiting for a bit of juice in the ground - it's hard to believe it's still good this far into the National Hunt season.
"But I suppose it's to this fellow's advantage so far as he likes a bit of nice ground - we'll be keeping to good ground as far as possible through the winter. When the rain comes there'll be no shortage of it, I imagine."
Elliott has three runners including Cheltenham Festival winners Delta Work and Blow By Blow while Naas scorer Discorama represents Wexford trainer Paul Nolan and recent Navan winner Jetz turns out again quickly for Jessica Harrington.
The going at Fairyhouse is good on the chase course and good, good to firm in places, on the hurdle track.
Watch live coverage of the Fairyhouse Winter Festival on RTÉ2 from 12.40pm and listen live on Sunday Sport
