Classy Buildmeupbuttercup chasing more riches over jumps in Ladbrokes Hurdle

Buildmeupbuttercup: heads the weights for the Ladbrokes HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

3.50 Leopardstown
Ladbrokes Hurdle (Grade B) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTE2/RTV

We may be living in unprecedented times but it is still the same old ultra-competitive Ladbrokes Hurdle and it could produce the same sort of result as recent years, with favourite Advanced Virgo out to provide Charles Byrnes with a fourth consecutive win in the race.

The Limerick trainer, who is set to have his appeal over a six-month suspension relating to the Viking Hoard case heard on Tuesday, landed this prize in back-to-back years with the JP McManus-trained Off You Go before Thosedaysaregone rewarded good market support to strike 12 months ago.

Advanced Virgo, ridden by last year's winning rider Kevin Brouder, won a valuable Fairyhouse handicap hurdle in late November, a race where Drop The Anchor finished an admirable third after being badly hampered. The winner must now defy a 10lb rise.

McManus has six in this and may well supply the biggest threats to Advanced Virgo in the shape of former course winner The Moyglass Flyer, who could have more to offer from a mark of 129, and Ciel De Neige, a regular in these big handicap hurdles who deserves to pick up a lucrative pot.

The latter is part of a potentially seven-strong squad for Willie Mullins, who saddles the top four in the handicap, including classy dual-purpose performers Buildmeupbuttercup and Stratum.

Talented novices Gabynako, Hes A Hardy Bloke and Eskylane have the potential to prove better than their respective marks if this big-field assignment isn't too demanding.

Boodles third Saint D'Oroux finished just behind the Paul O'Flynn-trained West Cork Wildway at Thurles seven weeks ago and it wouldn't be any surprise to see the pair in the thick of things at the business end.

Saturday's tipping and analysis:

Pricewise (part one): Tom Segal fancies big-priced Elliott runner to land Dublin Racing Festival prize (Members' Club)

Pricewise (part two): find out who Tom Segal thinks will cause an upset in the Cotswold Chase (Members' Club)

Saturday Sizzlers: 'He has his best days ahead of him' – Paul Kealy keen on Edinburgh National hope (Members' Club)

Paul Kealy's banker at Musselburgh on Saturday

The Punt Daily: Tom Collins' free horse racing tips on Saturday afternoon

Saturday's free racing tips: six horses to consider putting in your multiples

What they say

Willie Mullins, trainer of Buildmeupbuttercup, Stratum, Blue Sari, Ciel De Neige, Tiger Tap Tap, Uradel and Hybery
Paul has picked Buildmeupbuttercup but she has it all to do with top weight. She’s in great form at home but this ground probably won’t be to her liking. Stratum is having his first run since a winter break. This trip is a bit short for him and he won’t like the ground. He’s probably best watched. Blue Sari has yet to come back to his Cheltenham bumper form and will find this tough with the weight he is set to carry. Ciel De Neige finally got his head in front at Limerick over Christmas. He’s fit and well and this trip will suit. Tiger Tap Tap ran better than his finishing position would suggest here at Christmas but he might prefer better ground. Uradel is back after a long break and will find this tough. However, he has a nice weight, which will be reduced further by Aubrey McMahon's 7lb claim. Hybery is only third reserve but has a feather weight and could be great each-way value if he gets a run.

Joseph O'Brien, trainer of The Moyglass Flyer and Front View
The Moyglass Flyer has run well on all of his starts so far. He's got a nice low weight so we're hoping he can run well. Front View has been running over fences and we've decided to run him back over hurdles here. The prize-money is obviously very good and we'll be keeping our options open with going back over fences again later in the season.

Pat Fahy, trainer of Drop The Anchor
He got stopped in his tracks at the wrong time at Fairyhouse. He hasn't had luck on his side the last twice so hopefully things go better for him now. He's gradually improving so fingers crossed.

Gavin Cromwell, trainer of Gabynako
It's a bit of an experiment coming back to two miles with him. He travels well in his races, but he also stays well. We might try something different with him and take our time. It probably didn't help his cause for this when he got 6lb for finishing third in a Grade 1 last time but hopefully his mark might still be okay.

Paul O'Flynn, trainer of West Cork Wildway
We think he's improved since his win at Thurles. If he was to run well here then we could think about a Cheltenham Festival handicap. The owners are very excited to run in a race like this. They bought him as a three-year-old [for €10,000] and sent him to me. They've had offers to sell but held on to him, they wanted to have a nice horse.

Saturday's race previews and analysis:

Destination Dublin: escape to a magical place from the comfort of your own room (Members' Club)

Bounty of top-quality racing from Sandown and Wetherby on wet weekend in Britain (Members' Club)

The Saturday Jury: 'He was very impressive on his last chase start' (Members' Club)

1.05 Leopardstown: 'He must have a big chance' – Mullins hoping Gaillard gets team off to a flyer

1.35 Leopardstown: all eyes on 'special' Chacun Pour Soi as Mullins star is set for Dublin Chase

1.50 Sandown: will Shan Blue's electric jumping be the difference in Scilly Isles Chase?

2.10 Leopardstown: the next Douvan or Un De Sceaux? Mullins puts his confidence in Energumene

2.20 Sandown: can clockwise form prove key to solving rescheduled Cotswold Chase puzzle?

3.15 Leopardstown: a perfect ten? Unbeaten Honeysuckle chases Irish Champion Hurdle glory again

3.30 Sandown: Irish import A Toi Phil adds a little dash of class to competitive handicap

3.45 Musselburgh: the startling statistics that point to another super Saturday for Sandy Thomson