Galway Hurdle hero Saldier out to give Mullins back-to-back wins in feature

Sunday: 1:30 Tipperary
Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

It might be the biggest day of the European Flat season at Longchamp, but there is some superb jumping action at Tipperary as the track plays host to a trio of fascinating Grade 3s.

The star of the show is Saldier in the Horse & Jockey Hotel Hurdle (1.30), the dual Grade 1 winner who was last seen landing the Galway Hurdle under Patrick Mullins at Ballybrit in late July.

That impressive success under top weight has seen his mark rise to 162 from 155 and he is 33-1 with bet365 for the Champion Hurdle.

Willie Mullins won the race last year with the odds-on Saint Roi and he will fancy his chances of doing so again with Saldier, given he will receive 7lb from main market rival Jason The Militant, who is rated 5lb inferior to him.

There is no more versatile horse in the line-up than Darasso, who runs over 2m having contested the Kerry National over 3m on his most recent start 11 days ago.

Joseph O'Brien said: "He was a bit disappointing in the Kerry National but he has come out of the race in good order and he ran well on his last visit to Tipperary, so hopefully he can do so again."

Jason The Militant went down by half-a-length to Abacadabras in last year's Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle and should not be underestimated, while the presence of the unpredictable Felix Desjy adds extra spice to the dish.

Power returns to action on the prolific Gin On Lime

Grand National and Gold Cup-winning rider Robbie Power has not ridden since May after back surgery earlier the same month, but makes his return to the saddle on Gin On Lime in the Grade 3 O'Dwyer Steel Dundrum Novice Chase (3.45) and it wouldn't be the biggest surprise if he made a winning comeback.

Gin On Lime is three from four over fences and renews rivalry with Fan De Blues, who ended his winning sequence at Galway by a length. Power's mount is now 7lb better off with that rival, so could turn the tables.

Power said: "I've been working hard on my fitness and I'm feeling good. Things are coming along well and I'm raring to go. I've been riding out for Gordon Elliott, Jessica Harrington and Henry de Bromhead. I've been keeping myself very busy and I can't wait to get back on the racecourse now."

One of Gin On Lime's biggest dangers could be Busselton, a wide-margin winner of a beginners' chase at Listowel on his latest start.

O'Brien said: "Busselton won very well at Listowel and this was the logical next step for him. He's coming back in trip but we're hoping for a very good run from him."

Can anything follow in the footsteps of Penhill?

The opening Grade 3 Joe Mac Novice Hurdle (1.00) was won by subsequent Albert Bartlett and Stayers' Hurdle winner Penhill in 2016 and Willie Mullins has won it for five of the last six years, including 12 months ago with Shewearsitwell.

This time around the champion trainer is double-handed with Purple Mountain and Arctic Warrior, both winners of maiden hurdles on their most recent outings.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained Annie G is likely to head the market having won a Listed novice hurdle from the front at Galway in July.

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