Elliott gives Apple's Jade green light to take on Canyon in Hatton's Grace

Apple's Jade will be playing at home this weekend in search of a sixth Grade 1 victory with trainer Gordon Elliott yesterday indicating his crack mare will run in the Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse on Sunday rather than travel to Newcastle for the Fighting Fifth Hurdle 24 hours earlier.

The Gigginstown House Stud five-year-old ran in both races a year ago, losing out by a nose in the Fighting Fifth before beating Vroum Vroum Mag by a short head in the 2m4f Fairyhouse event eight days later.

Elliott said: "The plan is to run Apple's Jade in the Hatton's Grace on Sunday. She came out of her win in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in good form and we're happy with her."

Apple's Jade will face a maximum of six rivals in the Fairyhouse race and Willie Mullins will supply three of them including eight-time Grade 1 winner Nichols Canyon who will be making his seasonal reappearance.

"The plan is to run Nichols Canyon, Cilaos Emery and Augusta Kate in the Hatton's Grace," Mullins said yesterday.

Cilaos Emery finished off last season by beating stablemate, Melon, in the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle at the Punchestown festival while Augusta Kate got on the Grade 1 scoreboard in a mares novice hurdle at Fairyhouse in April.

Elliott, who has won two of the last four runnings of the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase, with Don Cossack in 2013 and No More Heroes in 2015, expects to be two-handed in Sunday's renewal.

"Death Duty and probably Dinaria Des Obeaux will run in the Drinmore. They are both two from two over fences and are in good form," Elliott said.

Rathvinden, a four time winner over fences, and Townshend will represent Mullins in Sunday's 2m4f event.

Mullins has won the last four runnings of the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle, most recently with Airlie Beach a year ago, will rely on Makitorix, an 18 length winner on his hurdling debut at Listowel in September.

Elliott confirmed Mengli Khan, winner of the Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle at Navan on his most recent start, and Hardline, another dual hurdles winner, as intended runners in the 2m event.

The ground at Fairyhouse yesterday was "soft to heavy, soft in places". The forecast for the rest of the week is for mainly dry and cold weather.

Members can read the latest exclusive interviews, news analysis and comment available from 6pm daily on racingpost.com