Tony McFadden provides an overview of the key things to note on Sunday.
Leader d'Allier can enhance Mullins' excellent record
Willie Mullins has dominated the Grade 2 Donohue Marquees Novice Hurdle (14:40) at Fairyhouse, winning eight of the last ten editions, including the last three. Last year he was responsible for the first five home, led by Irancy, but relies on just two candidates this time around - Leader d'Allier and Too Bossy For Us.
Too Bossy For Us is the clear form pick, heading Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 7 lb based on what he showed when sixth in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, Leader d'Allier was also supposed to contest the Supreme, and was a much shorter price than his stablemate, but was withdrawn on the morning of the race on account of lameness.
Leader d'Allier had been the choice of Paul Townend in the Supreme prior to that withdrawal and it looks significant that the stable jockey has again elected to ride him over Too Bossy For Us.
As things stands, Leader d'Allier's form may be a long way shy of what Too Bossy For Us has produced, but he hasn't had the opportunity to post a big figure after contesting only a couple of maiden hurdles since joining Mullins. He was a nine-length winner on the second of those starts and was value for a good deal more than the winning margin. This five-time bumper winner in France still has more to offer for his new yard - as denoted by the Timeform 'small p'.
Miss Attitude has strong claims on ratings
Beautiful Diamond and Miss Attitude bring the strongest form to the table in the listed Lansdown Stakes (15:10) at Bath but the terms of the race favour the latter.
Both fillies won at listed level last season but Miss Attitude escapes a penalty as her victory at Deauville came prior to the end of August. Beautiful Diamond, in contrast, won at Ayr in September and, as a consequence, is burdened with a 3 lb penalty here. That leads to Miss Attitude heading Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 4 lb from Beautiful Diamond, who in turn is 5 lb clear of the next filly in the pecking order.
Miss Attitude also has race fitness in her favour having run respectably on her reappearance at Southwell a couple of weeks ago, a performance which prompted Timeform's reporter to note she 'shaped as if better for the run after seven months off'. She should launch a bold bid for the Jack Channon stable which advertised its wellbeing by winning the Spring Mile and Lincoln at Doncaster last week on the opening day of the British Flat turf season.
More to come from progressive Mondo Man
The Sussex Champion Hurdle (16:05) has attracted 14 runners - the largest field since its inception in 2013 - and included among them are three with the Timeform Horse In Focus Flag, which is awarded to those deemed likely to be of firm interest next time.
One of those Horses In Focus is the progressive Mondo Man, who is bidding to win a second valuable handicap hurdle of the season having landed the Imperial Cup at Sandown last month.
Mondo Man had shaped well when fourth on his handicap hurdle debut at Ascot in December but wasn't seen to best effect there under a patient ride in a race in which the winner made all. He raised his game markedly, however, when allowed to stride on at Sandown last time, seemingly relishing the change in tactics.
Mondo Man ultimately won by a length and a half, but he looked set to win by a good deal further until an awkward landing at the final flight caused his rider to become unbalanced and lose his irons. That winning margin undersells Mondo Man's superiority and this smart recruit from the Flat could prove difficult to peg back around Plumpton's speed-favouring course if similar tactics to last time are employed. He retains the Timeform 'small p'.
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