Mitchouka© Photo Healy Racing
Mitchouka sets the standard in the Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Saturday.
A field of seven four-years-olds have been declared for the Grade Three contest and while the Gordon Elliott-trained and Gigginstown House Stud-owned Mitchouka must concede weight all round, he is clear on official ratings with a mark of 135.
The French import has won twice over the course and distance and while he possibly lacks the gear to be a legitimate Triumph Hurdle contender, he could well add to his tally before lining up in the Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle at Cheltenham next month.
Mitchouka is one of three last-time-out hurdle winners along with Charles O'Brien's Mastermind and Alohamora from James Nash's stable.
Mastermind was victorious over this two-mile trip at Naas a fortnight ago, but has 9lb to find with the likely favourite.
Alohamora bolted up on her hurdling debut at Catterick but now takes a significant step up in class.
The Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle has attracted 12 runners and could possibly see a breakthrough, and appropriate, winner for rookie trainer Padraig Roche with the JP-McManus owned Out Of The Loop
McManus was a big ally of the trainer's father Christy Roche before his retirement in the new year, and indeed Out Of The Loop was his final winner as a trainer at this venue in December.
The five-year-old has his first run since on Saturday and while raised 9lb for that success, he is open to further progress and could see off another recent winner in Gowran scorer Laid Back Luke Cadmium might be the answer to the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase.
The six-year-old carried the colours of the Supreme Horse Racing Club to victory on his Irish debut in a Limerick maiden hurdle in December 2016, but was then sidelined for over a year by injury.
Willie Mullins' charge made his reappearance and chasing debut at Navan last month and while he was ultimately well beaten in third place behind stablemates Bonbon Au Miel and Turcagua, he is likely to strip much fitter this weekend and this does not look a strong race.
Dual Foxhunter Chase winner Salsify runs for the first time since last year's Cheltenham Festival in the Download At The Races App Hunters Chase, but is not getting any younger at the age of 13 and the race-fit 10-year-old Sizing Coal is likely to prove a tough nut to crack.
Racegoers are advised to stay for the concluding bumper, with Elliott and Mullins both fielding winning point-to-pointers in Sometime Soon and Stay Humble respectively.
Charles Byrnes has saddled several winners in this sphere in recent weeks, so his newcomer Thosedaysaregone is well worth a market check.
