Apple's Jade leads Elliott big guns into battle on star-studded Fairyhouse card

Gordon Elliott will send five-time Grade 1 winner Apple's Jade and some of his brightest stars into battle on Sunday's star-studded meeting at Fairyhouse, where he holds leading claims in the three Grade 1 races on the card in what could prove to be a significant day in the race to be champion trainer.

Elliott was narrowly beaten to the title last season by perennial champion Willie Mullins in a thrilling climax to the Irish jumps season, but he has started this campaign strongly and enjoys a near-€300,000 advantage ahead of Sunday's valuable meeting, during which over €450,000 will be up for grabs.

Apple's Jade will defend her Bar One Racing Hatton's Grace Hurdle title against six rivals, headed by Mullins' Sun Bets Stayers' Hurdle hero Nichols Canyon, while in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle and the Drinmore Novice Chase – the other Grade 1s on the card – Elliott will launch a three-pronged attack.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle favourite Mengli Khan heads Elliott's team in the Royal Bond, in which he will be joined by Hardline and Morgan, while exciting novice chaser Death Duty, a winner on both starts over fences, is the odds-on favourite for the Drinmore. Elliott also runs Shattered Love and Dinaria Des Obeaux.

BoyleSports spokesman Lawrence Lyons said: “There are three competitive Grade 1s to tuck into at Fairyhouse on Sunday and some of Gordon Elliott’s stars could leave us with red faces come the close of play.

“With Mengli Khan, Apple’s Jade and Death Duty all looking like potential winners, he has a really strong hand and we expect Elliott’s trio of favourites will be a popular treble with punters.”

Mengli Khan on his way to victory at NavanCredit: Alain Barr

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Elsewhere on the card, Elliott will be looking for a third straight win from Mitchouka in the opening Grade 3 juvenile hurdle, while the Pat Kelly-trained Presenting Percy will be aiming to bounce back from defeat at Punchestown in the Porterstown Handicap Chase.

Mullins has a strong team at Faiyhouse, including the likes of Makitorix in the Royal Bond and Rathvinden in the Drinmore, but he has also been attracted to Carlisle on Sunday with the exciting Benie Des Dieux entered in the Listed mares' chase.

Carlisle also stages five finals for the Northern Lights Series with the field sizes holding up reasonably well after four of the races were reopened at the start of the week.

Carlisle must pass an inspection at 9am on Saturday as the course is frozen in places.

Click here to see Sunday's Fairyhouse card

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