Muthaza (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Muthaza will bid to extend her unbeaten record over timber when she lines up in the Bellinter House Classic Mares Hurdle at Bellewstown on Thursday.
The French-bred four-year-old won on her Irish debut at Tramore, before following up over the course and distance in June.
She ran out a convincing winner on her last start at the Galway Festival and will prove hard to beat in this six-runner contest.
The consistent The Nutcracker who is rated just 2lb inferior to Muthaza, should give a good account of herself, while Water Sprite is another interesting contender. King's Wharf is also seeking his fourth successive victory and he represents Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh in the feature At The Races Mullacurry Cup Handicap Hurdle.
King's Wharf has won his last two over fences, and he gets into this 14-runner race off a favourable mark of 103. You Can't Catch Me who has already won twice this season, ran well on his last start at Tramore and he should give another bold sight, while others to consider are Afatcat recent Ballinrobe winner Call Me Pj and the Denis Hogan-trained The Mad Well
Hogan is represented by Fiosrach in the Niall MacMahon 10th Anniversary Memorial Handicap Hurdle and the six-year-old is a leading contender after going down by just a neck at Kilbeggan last Friday. Venture Lazarus and Effernock Lad both won last time out and they are sure to have plenty of supporters, while Icelip Konig Hall and Black Label all look to have solid each-way claims.
Hogan also appears to have a leading contender in the shape of Big Bad Brian in the Bluegrass Horse Feeds Maiden Hurdle.
The son of Brian Boru has been placed on his last two starts, and Henry Howard Winsome Bucks and Leopards Leap seem to be his main rivals here. Top Of The Town completed a famous treble for Charles Byrnes and Davy Russell at Roscommon earlier this month and he attempts to follow up in the Hibernia Steel Products Handicap Hurdle.
This three-mile contest is a wide-open affair, with Round Tower, Crosshue Boy Tulsa Jack and Garri Rua a few for the shortlist.
Billy The Kid and Aretesone look the two to focus on in the opening TheTote.com Maiden Hurdle, while Grinditout might be able to take the concluding Woods Financial Services Ltd. (Ladies Pro/Am) Flat Race.
