Is Paul Townend on the right Mullins mare in superb Solerina Novice Hurdle?

Saturday: 1.40 Fairyhouse
BetVictor Solerina Mares Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) | 2m2½f | 4yo+ | RTV

There is every chance we could see a significant shake-up in the festival market for the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle after what promises to be a highly informative Grade 3 here.

Willie Mullins holds an extremely strong hand in the race that has produced two of the six winners of that Cheltenham target – as well as the future Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle in 2019 – saddling four of the nine runners on Saturday.

With Allegorie De Vassy and Brandy Love heading the Mares' Novices' Hurdle betting at 7-2 and 6-1 with BoyleSports, it might have been expected that Paul Townend would side with the Cheltenham Festival favourite here.

However, the champion jockey was keen to ride Brandy Love again after a highly impressive mares' maiden hurdle win at Naas last month.

Sean O'Keeffe retains the ride on Allegorie De Vassy having steered her to a ready success here on New Year's Day, while Danny Mullins partners the stable's Braganza.

Bryan Cooper is familiar with high-class bumper mare Grangee from their win in a maiden hurdle here in November and is back in the plate again, completing the quartet.

Grangee comes here after a respectable fourth behind Mighty Potter in the Grade 1 Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown last month.

"This wasn't an easy choice," said Townend.

"Allegorie De Vassy, Braganza and Grangee are also very good mares. Brandy Love is a course winner and I think the step up in trip [from two miles] will suit her."

Speaking in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend added: "I could easily be on the wrong one, but I have stuck with the mare I have got the feel of and won on.

Allegorie De Vassy: impressive winner at this track on New Year's Day

"The return to mares company will suit Grangee, while Allegorie De Vassy was visually impressive on her first run for us. Braganza was a little disappointing last time and has a bit to prove."

Braganza's latest effort came behind well-experienced race rival Lunar Display, trained by Joseph O'Brien, in Listed company at Thurles.

O'Brien said of his runner: "We're happy that she's in good form. She's a solid filly and hopefully she'll be able to pick up more black type."

Gordon Elliott is represented by a last-time-out Listed winner in Party Central.

The trainer said: "She's in good form and maybe she performed a bit better than the bare result of her win at Punchestown last time.

"While she has to step up on the figures, we think she's a nice mare and progressing all the time."

Read more Saturday previews . . .

1.55 Cheltenham: 'He's in the form of his life' – Milton Harris bullish about Jacamar

2.30 Cheltenham: 'He's got to come through this' – D-day for big Gold Cup hope Chantry House

2.45 Doncaster: will the River Don prove an 'easy route' for Unanswered Prayers?

3.05 Cheltenham: 'Any criticism of him is surely harsh' – Graeme Rodway on Cleeve favourite Champ

3.20 Doncaster: Fusil Raffles and Cap Du Nord among leading fancies in wide-open Sky Bet Chase

3.40 Cheltenham: does Nicky Henderson hold winning formline in clash of two potential stars?

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