'He comes in on a nice weight' - Willie Mullins has five for valuable handicap

Sunday: 3.10 Fairyhouse
baroneracing.com Handicap Hurdle | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

Charles Byrnes has won this valuable prize twice in the last three years with Wonder Laish (2018) and Advanced Virgo (2020) and this time he relies on the unexposed five-year-old Light Brigade.

He was just 9-2 for the handicap hurdle Eskylane won at Down Royal but folded tamely having jumped the third-last in front. He is better than that and his near miss in a novice handicap hurdle at the Punchestown festival in April makes him an intriguing contender.

It's hard to get away from the Gordon Elliott pair, Eskylane and Magic Tricks. They were first and second in the aforementioned race at Down Royal. The winner has gone up 10lb for that, so the runner-up is now 7lb better off.

Magic Tricks was just touched off in a 20-runner handicap hurdle over course and distance at the Irish Grand National meeting in April, so could be the one to beat off a 6lb higher mark.

Glens Of Antrim, in the same colours of JP McManus, remains a maiden over hurdles but she has some solid form in defeat from last season.

She chased home Stattler and Mr Incredible and was sixth in the mares' novice hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, a race won by Telmesomethinggirl. She could be very dangerous in her first handicap off a mark of just 128.

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Whiskey Sour, Glens Of Antrim, Purple Mountain, Mr Coldstone and Dads Lad
I think the ground will suit Whiskey Sour and Jack Foley’s 5lb claim will help. The jockey is in form and riding well, so I’m hoping for a decent run. Dads Lad surprised me when winning so well at Cork last time. He comes into this on a nice weight. Brian Hayes, who rode him last time, gets on well with him and he has his chance again. We’re hoping the first-time tongue-tie can bring about improvement in Glens Of Antrim, but I think she'll improve as the season progresses. She has her chance. The ground will be just about all right for Purple Mountain on what could possibly be her final run before a winter break. Mr Coldstone probably has to improve a bit to feature in the finish. We’ll just cross our fingers and hope he does progress.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Eskylane, Magic Tricks, Eclair De Beaufeu and Glan
Eskylane and Magic Tricks finished first and second at Down Royal. Eskylane has always been a nice horse and it was nice to see him do what he did there. He's gone up 10lb for that but hopefully he's still improving. Magic Tricks seems to be in good form since Down Royal and has his chance. Eclair De Beaufeu bounced back to form at Kilbeggan in August, while Glan is a novice who has taken well to hurdling.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Wolf Prince and Brides Hill
Wolf Prince is not that well handicapped but he’s well in himself, so hopefully there could be an each-way chance with him. Brides Hill ran a nice race the last day, so hopefully she can get involved.

Emmet Mullins, trainer of Sevenna Star
He is 5lb out of the handicap but it's a €100,000 race so, when you are getting a run, you have to take your chance. He had an alright run at Cork behind Dads Lad and hopefully he can improve on that.

Read more Fairyhouse previews:

1.05 Fairyhouse: 'We were very impressed with him' - will My Mate Mozzie be the punters' pal?

1.35 Fairyhouse: 'He'll come on a hell of a lot for that run' - who is expecting a big display?

2.40 Fairyhouse: Return of the queen: get Henry de Bromhead's thoughts on Honeysuckle

18+. New UK+IRE customers only. Certain deposit methods and bet types excluded. Minimum first £10 bet within 14 days of account registration at minimum odds of 1-2 = 3x £10 free bets. Free bets valid for seven days. Stake not returned. No cash-out. Restrictions and T&Cs apply. Sign up here.