'We hope a clear round will be enough' - Willie Mullins looks for Allaho repeat

Sunday: 3.15 Thurles
Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2) | 2m4½f | 6yo+ | RTV

Just four go to post for this Grade 2, which so often attracts small fields, averaging 5.7 runners across the last ten runnings, but don't assume that has limited the quality on display.

We see a quartet of high-class operators who have all won two Grade 1s each, amassing a combined total of 17 Graded victories between them.

Allaho, officially the third-highest rated jumps horse in Ireland, is the clear standout as he attempts to follow up his win in this race last year. That contest, and in fact that entire meeting, proved a key pointer to the 2021 Cheltenham Festival.

Allaho: edged out stablemate Elimay when winning this race last yearCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

The Cheveley Park-owned star blew his rivals away in the Ryanair Chase after edging out Elimay here, with the runner-up narrowly denied in the Mares' Chase at Cheltenham by Colreevy.

It was earlier on the same Thurles card that Colreevy struck in Grade 2 company, beating another subsequent Cheltenham Festival in Kim Muir heroine Mount Ida.

It had been suggested earlier this month that Allaho could go straight back to the festival, having seemingly had a hard race when winning the John Durkan at Punchestown. However, he warms up for a Ryanair repeat here and will bid to confirm that Punchestown form with Fakir D'Oudairies.

There were eight lengths between the pair last time and 12 lengths when they finished 1-2 in last year's Ryanair.

We didn't see the very best from Fakir D'Oudairies at Punchestown and he should give the Willie Mullins-trained favourite more to think about, but barring Allaho's Punchestown test has left a serious mark, it's hard to see his reversing the form.

This has been a race of mixed fortunes for the champion trainer. Before the recent wins of Allaho (2021) and Real Steel (2020), Mullins had been out of luck in 15 of the 16 previous occasions, saddling the beaten favourite or second favourite nine times during that period.

Battleoverdoyen gave Envoi Allen a scare at Leopardstown over Christmas, trading as low as 1.5 in-running on Betfair, and will aim to go one better.

Fakir D'Oudairies: in flying form when winning a Grade 1 at Aintree last seasonCredit: Pool

He should be competitive but can be a little hit and miss, tailed off and found to be blowing hard after this race last year.

Notebook looked to pay the price for taking on Energumene last time when trailing the Hilly Way field, although he may have had an excuse for dropping out considering he was sore behind after the race.

His best form is over two miles but it seems a decent move to try him back over this longer trip to see if it could eke out improvement.

Don't judge him on the basis of his only other try at 2m4f over fences when disappointing last season at Aintree, where he was clearly below his best at the end of term.

Mullins confident Allaho can continue march towards Cheltenham

Allaho plundered this prize on ground described as soft to heavy last season and Willie Mullins does not believe this year's drier conditions will dent his representative's chances.

The latest update from Thurles on Friday saw the going described as good to yielding on the chase course with a mainly dry forecast.

Mullins said: "He won this race last year and while the ground is better than it was then, I think it will suit him. We're hoping a good, clear round will be enough for him."

What they say

Frank Berry, racing manager to JP McManus, owner of Fakir D'Oudairies
It looks a cracking race. Joseph [O'Brien] seems to be happy with him, so hopefully he runs a good race. We know it won't be an easy task.

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Battleoverdoyen
We're stepping him back up in trip after his good run against Envoi Allen the last day. It's obviously a hot race but hopefully he can run well and pick up a bit of prize-money.

Henry de Bromhead, trainer of Notebook
He seems to be in good form and we're hoping he's back on track. We'll see how he gets on over this trip and hopefully it might open a few more doors for him.

Sunday's race previews:

2.25 Lingfield: 'We've had this race in mind' - conditions to suit outsider of three Goshen

3.00 Lingfield: 'He should be bang there' - which trainer fancies his chances in Fleur De Lys?

3.35 Lingfield: Look for heavy-ground specialists or 'swimmers' in Surrey National

Watch live races through the Racing Post. Log in to your bookmaker account and look on the racecards for eligible races. Click the red 'Watch live now' icon and they're off! Find out how here