RACING at Naas goes ahead on Sunday following an early-morning inspection. The ground is soft, soft to heavy in places, with more rain forecast.

Unfortunately the two point-to-points scheduled for Tinahely and Ballindenisk have been cancelled.

In Britain, the jumps card at Chepstow was called off after two races due to heavy fog. Plumpton initially passed an inspection but was called off later in the morning.

The feature race at Naas is the Grade 1 Lawlor's of Naas Novice Hurdle. Willie Mullins has won five of the last 10 runnings and is responsible for five of the 10 declared on Sunday.

Gordon Elliott is the next trainer in the standings by previous winners (four) and entries (two), followed by Henry de Bromhead, who has one chance of securing his second success. Elliott and De Bromhead’s previous winners were all sent off favourites, but on three occasions, it was not Closutton’s first string who obliged.

Most notably, McKinley won the first running with Grade 1 status, returning a 33/1 shot under Paul Townend. The stable’s 4/5 favourite Tell Us More was headed close home under Bryan Cooper. Even 12 months ago there was a Mullins-trained upset, with 16/1 winner Readin Tommy Wrong sent off the longest-priced runner from the stable’s four contenders.

So, on Sunday, it would be unwise to only consider Paul Townend’s choice and the current favourite, Cheltenham Champion Bumper hero Jasmin De Vaux. Patrick Mullins was aboard the Simon Munir and Isaac Souede-owned bay during his top-flight success, and the assistant trainer’s upcoming ride, Supersundae, is currently ranked as the stable’s second-best chance in the market.

Super sub

“I’m delighted to get back on Supersundae,” the champion amateur rider said on Friday. “I thought he ran an absolute blinder in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on his debut for us [when beaten 10 and a half lengths in seventh]. This is his first run back off a long break but I think he should run a huge race.”

On his previous partner, Jasmin De Vaux, Mullins commented: “We saw how big an engine he had when he won the bumper at Cheltenham last year. His jumping at Navan left room for improvement and we think he has improved his technique at home but he just could be a horse that needs lot of racing experience to really get the hang of it.”

Danny Mullins will get the leg up on Spasiba, third on the flat in the valuable amateur riders’ race at the Galway Festival and last seen a winning a maiden hurdle debut at this track. Patrick Mullins said: “Spasiba won around here and is hard fit from racing on the flat during the summer so he should have a chance of collecting some decent prize money.”

Mullins was eloquent regarding the team’s other runner - “Plantier has been interrailing around Europe most of his life,” as Sean O’Keeffe’s ride has spent most of his career in Poland and France, with some trips to Germany and Italy. On his most recent form, Patrick Mullins added: “He ran reasonably well in Fairyhouse and should be competitive again.

Walsh’ strong hand

Aside from ‘the big three’, the only other trainer represented in the first Grade 1 of the year is Ted Walsh, who appears to have a strong chance with Shuffle The Deck. The J.P. McManus-owned and Noreen McManus-bred bay made a perfect start in a four-year-old maiden at Borris House for Derek O’Connor before a promising debut under rules in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown, taking third behind Sunday’s rival Butch Cassidy.

The son of Walk In The Park progressed to land a maiden hurdle over tomorrow’s course and distance, and Walsh appears hopeful of his chances. “Hopefully he puts up a good show,” said Walsh.

“He’s a fine big horse that will improve with time and we will know a lot more after Sunday’s race. We’ll see how he runs back at Naas on Sunday but it’s nice to be going back there with a horse like him.”

MULLINS, Elliott and de Bromhead also provide the top three in the market for the card’s other graded race, the preceding Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase.

Two of the three ran in last year’s Grade 1 feature – then-favourite Ile Atlantique was narrowly denied by his Closutton stablemate, while Elliott’s Firefox was beaten over eight lengths into fourth at a price of 15/8.

Il Atlantique went on to finish third at Cheltenham and was an impressive front-running winner on chasing debut last month.

Ahead of Sunday’s run, Patrick Mullins commented: “It looks like chases have improved Ile Atlantique like we thought they might and the tongue strap has helped him as well.

“I think Naas as a track will suit him and he was obviously just touched off in the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle on this card last year but he will have to raise his game to get to the level that Firefox and Inthepocket have ran to over hurdles.”

Exciting prospects

Firefox also went on to place at Cheltenham, before going even closer at Aintree and Punchestown.

Gordon Elliott’s charge also made a perfect start over fences, but failed to justify favouritism next time in the Drinmore Novice Chase, when he was beaten half a length.

Their other main rival this weekend is Henry de Bromhead’s Grade 1-winning hurdler, who unfortunately ran just once last season but looked as good as ever when bolting up on return in October.

Rachael Blackmore is reunited with the J.P. McManus-owned bay at Naas, while Darragh O’Keeffe will partner the Con O’Keeffe-trained mare Kilbarry Saint. She is currently a big price, but outran odds of 80/1 when second in a Grade 2 novice hurdle won by Mirazur West last season, and may pick up further blacktype if one of the main fancies disappoints.

The only other runner, the Harry Kelly-trained mare Walk In Time, has also been declared at Cork on Saturday.