Glencairn View winning at Punchestown last time© Photo Healy Racing
Tony Mullins hopes Glencairn View can make the most of his light weight in the Toals.com Bookmakers Leinster National at Gowran Park on Saturday.
With the chase track at Naas deemed unfit for racing ahead of the track's fixture on Sunday, the prestigious handicap was swiftly moved to the previous day's card in County Kilkenny and a fiercely competitive field of 16 runners has been declared.
Glencairn View, who was last seen scoring at Punchestown in January, has crept in at the very bottom with just 10st1lb on his back and with the trainer's son Danny Mullins in the plate, the locally-based handler is hopeful his charge will give a good account of himself.
Mullins said: "The ground certainly won't be an issue and the switch to Gowran doesn't bother us. Going left-handed or right-handed makes no difference to him. He jumps and stays and having a light weight on his back is a big help.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime chance for a horse like him to be running in a €100,000 race like this. He's an improver. He's going to have to improve on what he did in Punchestown to be winning on Saturday, but we think he will."
The weights are headed by 2015 Irish Grand National hero Thunder And Roses one of two runners for Mouse Morris along with Rogue Angel That pair are part of a four-strong team for Gigginstown House Stud along with Gordon Elliott's Sutton Manor and the Noel Meade-trained Wounded Warrior
An Elliott victory would further boost his hopes of being crowned champion trainer for the first time and the Cullentra handler is typically well represented with a four-pronged assault completed by Space Cadet Out Sam and the hat-trick seeking Poormans Hill who reverts to fences under Jack Kennedy following successive wins over hurdles.
Champion trainer Willie Mullins relies on Pairofbrowneyes who makes his debut for the yard having previously been trained by Barry Murphy.
Paul Nolan is looking forward to saddling Fine Theatre who is a half-brother to the Wexford-based trainer's former high-class staying chaser Joncol.
The eight-year-old was seventh in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran in January, but unseated his rider in a hurdle race at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago.
Nolan said: "He ran a respectable race in the Thyestes and I'd be hopeful he could run well on Saturday if things go right for him. He seems in good form, it's a very nice pot and the ground should suit him. I think he was still travelling well at Fairyhouse the last day, so hopefully he'll be competitive."
