Paul Townend puts faith in Farout as Willie Mullins fields seven in feature race

Saturday: 4.50 Fairyhouse
RYBO Handicap Hurdle (Grade A) | 2m | 4yo+ | RTV

Willie Mullins threw five darts at the board in this race last year when Ruaille Buaille, the pick of Paul Townend, finished best of his runners in third and the champion trainer is fielding an even bigger team of seven for this year's running.

Townend has sided with Future Champions Novice Hurdle third Farout, last seen finishing ninth in the County Hurdle, as he bids to take home the lion's share of the €100,000 prize up for grabs.

Stablemate Tax For Max was safely held when falling at the last in the same Cheltenham Festival handicap but would be a live player off a mark of 131 if back to his best form. He was sent off favourite to beat Farout when second at the Galway festival two starts ago.

Kenny Alexander-owned mares La Prima Donna and Heia are interesting off their ratings of 125 and 123 respectively but lack experience for a test such as this.

Glan (leader): returns to the scene of her maiden hurdle success in OctoberCredit: Caroline Norris (racingpost.com/photos)

Gordon Elliott sends out four in a bid to win this race for the first time, including the highest-rated runner of all in Eskylane, who was last seen landing a competitive Down Royal handicap hurdle in good style last October.

JP McManus-owned mare Glan is arguably the most interesting of his runners, though, having finished second in a Grade A handicap hurdle at this venue on Hatton's Grace Hurdle day in November.

Expect her to be coming home late in the day under 10st 3lb, with Mark Walsh getting down to his lowest weight for a domestic ride in 14 months.

Don't discount a big run from outsider Hearts Are Trumps, who won this race last year off 131 and now returns off 129 – his lowest mark since November 2018. His record in valuable handicaps at Fairyhouse is solid and decent ground will be ideal.

What they say

Hearts Are Trumps: bids for back-to-back wins in Saturday's feature event at FairyhouseCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Gordon Elliott, trainer of Eskylane, Felix Desjy, Glan and Iberique Du Seuil
Eskylane is back from a break and we're looking forward to running him. He's got a lot of weight but seems in good form. Felix Desjy didn't run run badly in the County Hurdle last time. We'll look to drop him in and have him coming home well again. Glan has a lovely racing weight of 10st 3lb. She probably didn't get home last time and we're coming back to two miles now. Iberique Du Seuil finished seventh in the Boodles at Cheltenham and hopefully can run well off a low weight.

Sean Flanagan, rider of Jesse Evans
He was disappointing at Cheltenham because usually he sees out his races well but we'll have to draw a line through the run. He seems to be in good form at home since. He'll like the ground and trip so I'm hoping for a big run.

Shane Crawley, trainer of Nodoubtaboutthat
We're throwing her in at the deep end for her first start back but she's got a lovely weight, it's a great pot and we're only up the road from Fairyhouse. The ground might have been turning a bit soft for her last time at Tipperary but she has handicap experience from winning at Galway last summer.

Saturday's race previews:

1.50 Newbury: Christophe Soumillon out to make rare British trip pay on this 'cracking horse'

2.25 Newbury: Charlie Appleby: 'we're using this as a springboard to the French 1,000 Guineas'

3.00 Newbury: 'He's the one they have to beat' - find out who is confident for the Greenham

3.00 Newbury: 'There seems to be lots of would-be sprinters' - Keith Melrose on Greenham trend (Members’ Club)

3.14 Musselburgh: Can Emmet Mullins do it again? Grand National hero takes aim at Flat prize

3.25 Cork: Can consistent Thunder Kiss continue red-hot Ger Lyons form in Listed prize?

3.35 Newbury: Which Spring Cup runner 'clearly has some unfinished business'?