Stable companions Dinoblue and last year’s winner Allegorie De Vassy head the BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase at Naas this Saturday, on a card that is likely to provide racegoers with strong pointers to some major races this spring.

Grade 1 winner Dinoblue is the mount of JP McManus’ retained jockey Mark Walsh while Paul Townend will once again be onboard Allegorie De Vassy with both horses likely to have the Cheltenham Festival on their agenda after this weekend.

The field is completed by the Tom Gibney-trained Must Be Obeyed who has previously been placed in Grade 2 company.

While champion trainer Willie Mullins provides the two leading contenders in the feature race of the day, Gordon Elliott provides two of the most intriguing entries on the card.

Racing begins with the PSIL Property Maintenance Supporting Kill GAA Rated Hurdle and Elliott saddles Irish debutant Kurasso Blue in a race that was previously won by the Cheltenham Festival winning juvenile Brazil.

Kurasso Blue was a winner over hurdles in France before being purchased by Robcour and joining Elliott's yard and his rivals on Saturday include another French winner in Murcia for Mullins and Townend.

Settling in

“Kurasso Blue has settled into life at Cullentra very well and hopefully will be a nice prospect for the future. He won on very soft ground at Auteuil so should relish conditions at Naas this weekend and we’re just looking forward to getting him started and we’ll see where he goes from there,” Elliott said of the Triumph Hurdle entry.

In the Christopher Dunne Memorial (Pro/Am) Flat Race, Elliott gives an eagerly anticipated debut to Apples Jane, the first daughter of high class mare Apple’s Jade.

Josh Williamson takes the ride on Apple’s Jane whose dam was the winner of 11 Grade 1 races throughout her racing career. The four-year-old faces four rivals including the Harry Swan-ridden Eternal Echo also trained by Elliott.

“Apple's Jade was obviously a spectacular horse for us and when Noel and Valerie (Moran) went into the breeding game it was to have very well bred horses such as Apples Jane so Saturday will be an exciting day to see her in action,” Elliott said.

“Eternal Echo and Apples Jane are two nice horses and it is a bumper we’ve had a bit of luck in previously so hopefully they’ll both run well.”

The QuinnBet Hunters Chase has attracted a highly competitive field with last year’s winner Its On The Line back to try and win the race again for Emmet Mullins and Derek O’Connor.

Big Interest, who defeated Its On The Line at Christmas is also included for David Christie and Barry O’Neill, while the classy veteran Annamix will make his first start for new trainer Sonny Carey having been a six time winner for Willie Mullins.

The first on a seven-race card is due off at 1.20pm and further details can be found on naasracecourse.com.