Harrington buzzing about juvenile filly following in Band Of Outlaws hoofprints

It is not too late for Cheltenham clues, and it certainly wasn't last year, as two subsequent festival winners were successful on Saturday's Naas card.

City Island justified 1-5 favouritism in the 2m3f novice hurdle (3.57) before going on to conquer Champ in the Ballymore, while the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle winner Band Of Outlaws showed a smart turn of foot to take the 2m rated novice hurdle (2.12).

Willie Mullins has won the feature Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase (1.37) three times in the last four years, including with the mighty Benie Des Dieux in 2018, and the champion trainer relies on Cut The Mustard as he attempts to continue his hot streak in the Listed affair.

Cut The Mustard was a 133-rated hurdler but looked even better over fences when winning by 14 lengths at Limerick over Christmas on his first start over fences.

She bettered that effort arguably when chasing home the smart Elimay in a Grade 2 race at Thurles last month and is sure to be a warm order in the market.

"She ran well behind Elimay in Thurles the last day," said partner Paul Townend. "This is open company despite the fact she’s a novice, but she jumps well and this looks a nice opportunity for her. She has only 10st 7lb on her back."

Gordon Elliott tries Tintangle in blinkers for the first time, but she has 53 lengths to make up on Cut The Mustard from their recent tussle at Thurles.

Flamingo's Court was an impressive winner of a 2m handicap chase at Thurles on Thursday and Andrew McNamara has wasted little time in sending his improving seven-year-old back to work, although she will need to up her game again to cope with Cut The Mustard.

McNamara said: "Flamingo's Court is a good jumper. Bryan Cooper was good and positive on her at Thurles and hopefully she can kick on now."

It is hard to imagine the Triumph Hurdle market being reshuffled after the 2m rated novice hurdle, but Gin On Lime, Aramax and Recent Revelations could all come under consideration for the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle with positive displays.

Jessica Harrington: 'It's quite frightening, because I have those nice Flat horses this year.'Credit: INPHO/Oisin Keniry

The Jessica Harrington-trained Gin On Lime was an impressive winner of her sole start in France and went into plenty of notebooks when fourth to Minella Melody in a hot Grade 3 at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago.

Harrington said: "I was delighted with her run at Fairyhouse and she is a filly we have liked since the moment she arrived with us. This should suit her better, as it is against her own age group, and I'm hoping she will go well. She's very nice."

Read more from Donald McCain in The Big Read, available to members from 6pm on Saturday or in Sunday's Racing Post newspaper. Join Members' Club here