Major Ballymore hope Journey With Me bids to follow in footsteps of City Island

Saturday's card at Naas has been the launchpad for three Cheltenham Festival winners in the last three years, and connections of the deeply exciting Journey With Me will be hoping for a similar outcome as he puts his unbeaten record on the line.

Having missed a Grade 1 option at last weekend's Dublin Racing Festival, the 5-1 shot for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle bids to follow in the footsteps of City Island, who won Saturday's Connolly's Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle (1.40) before his Ballymore victory.

It looked like a high-class maiden hurdle Henry de Bromhead had selected at Leopardstown for Journey With Me's seasonal reappearance and that has proven the case since.

Journey With Me: no bigger than 5-1 to land the Ballymore Novices' HurdleCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Runner-up Minella Crooner has advertised the form by winning readily at Punchestown and finishing second in top-level company at the Dublin Racing Festival while Kilcruit (third) and Falcon Eight (fifth) have both won maiden hurdles since.

O'Toole, who trainer Stuart Crawford described as his best horse in training earlier this week, and recent maiden hurdle winners Hi Ho Phoenix and Pinkerton add depth to this 2m3f event.

Paul Townend, rider of Hi Ho Phoenix, said: "He was impressive winning at Fairyhouse. It's not going to be ideal dropping in trip but he qualifies for this race and that is why he's going there."

Writing in his Ladbrokes blog, Townend added: "Unfortunately, so does Journey With Me who has a huge reputation, and his maiden form is rock-solid so he will take a lot of beating."

It would be a shock if last season's Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase runner-up Elimay could not make it back-to-back wins in the Listed BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase (4.00), attempting to extend Willie Mullins' excellent record in the race.

Elimay (right): just denied by Mount Ida last time in the John & Chich Fowler Memorial EBF Mares Chase

All in all, it is a disappointing turnout for this 2m event, with only Court Maid appearing a legitimate challenger to the Willie Mullins-trained performer who sports cheekpieces and a tongue-tie for the first time.

Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP McManus, said: "It looks an ideal race for Elimay. She's been running well without getting her head in front and Willie is happy with her so hopefully she puts in a good round. It would be great to get her back to Cheltenham in one piece again."

Two-time Cheltenham Festival runner-up Billaway is the standout contender for Mullins in the 3m1f hunter chase (4.30), in which she attempts a hat-trick in the race. Improvement is expected after his defeat to Winged Leader at Thurles last month.

Mullins said: "We're coming back to war a bit soon with him, but I want runs into him before Cheltenham. He ran well last time and I think this is an opportunity to head to the festival on a winning note."

Billaway: can get back on track at Naas on SaturdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

On his other representative Good Bye Sam, Mullins added: "This is a step up for him, but I want to run him to get him some experience on the racetrack. He'll be aimed for races at Punchestown."

We could also see a live contender for the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle in the shape of Mighty Blue, a high-class Flat mare who makes her first appearance over hurdles since finishing third to Telmesomethinggirl at last year's four-day extravaganza.

Trained by Joseph O'Brien, she looks the one to beat in the second division of the 1m7½f maiden hurdle (2.50).

The opening rated novice hurdle for four-year-olds (1.05) has been a decent trial for the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle in recent years, with the 1-2 from 2020, Aramax and Recent Revelations, finishing first and fourth in the Cheltenham prize.

A year earlier, Band Of Outlaws and Coko Beach filled the first two places in the race known as the Fred Winter, having finished first and third in this contest at Naas.

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