Willie Mullins set to saddle first runner at Newton Abbot after meeting passes inspection

Willie Mullins will saddle his first runner at Newton Abbot this afternoon after the Devon track passed a morning inspection.

Alvaniy, a recent maiden hurdle winner at Galway, will represent Mullins in the 2m5½f novice hurdle (4.20).

Officials had been concerned about the potential for heavy rain late on Thursday, with the course hit by 48mm last weekend.

However the showers that arrived were not as bad as feared, with 7mm recorded at the jumps venue.

The going is heavy but there are no concerns with a dry day forecast.

Clerk of the course Jason Loosemore said: "We were fearful with the forecast as we had some proper heavy showers on Thursday morning that amounted to just over five millimetres, and the concern was we could be hit by a similar amount later in the day.

"Thankfully only another two millimetres arrived and we're able to give the meeting the go-ahead. It's heavy ground but it's wet and the runners will get through it fine.

"It's a beautiful start to the day and we're expecting it to be largely dry with sunny intervals."

Newton Abbot: meeting goes ahead on FridayCredit: Getty Images

Owner Paul Byrne was successful with the Emmet Mullins-trained Slate Lane, who is 3-3 in Britain this season, at Newton Abbot last month.

He now teams up with Ireland's champion jumps trainer at the track and Alvaniy is odds-on to back up his first hurdles win.

Brian Hayes's mount was placed in both bumper runs for Paul Gammell before joining Mullins. He finished fifth on his hurdling debut at Galway before winning by four and a half lengths last time.

He sports a hood for the first time and faces a previous winner in Wonderful Eagle, who struck on his first start for Philip Hobbs and Johnson White at this track last month.

The going has eased to good to soft (from good to soft, good in places) at Ayr for day two of the Gold Cup meeting.

Clerk of the course Graeme Anderson said: "It's good to soft and slightly softer from the five-furlong to six-furlong markers on the round course. We're forecast showers this morning and then a dry, sunny afternoon."

Spotlight view

Fifth in good-quality maiden at Galway festival (2m5f, good to yielding) on last month's hurdling debut and delivered on that promise when easily winning lesser maiden there (2m, soft) 11 days ago, despite not jumping very well; back up in trip with hood fitted here; ought to be very hard to beat.

Alvaniy16:20 Newton Abbot

View Racecard

Jky: Brian Hayes Tnr: W P Mullins

Read more . . .

Why this horse can win the 2023 Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday - plus 1-2-3 predictions 

Four horses who will be suited by testing ground at Newbury on Friday 

Racing Post Members' Club: subscribe for just £9.99 

Do you want £400+ of free bets? Racing Post have got the best offers, all in one place. Visit racingpost.com/freebets to find out more.