Fly Faces Three in Morgiana

(Healy Racing Photos)

While the champion Irish trainer has not enjoyed an ideal start to the campaign, with a few horses coughing in his yard, he is satisfied Hurricane Fly is fit enough to do himself justice.

Profiles W P Mullins Hurricane Fly (IRE)

"Hurricane Fly worked well the other day and I'm happy with him," said Mullins.

"I'd imagine Christmas time (would be his next run after the weekend) but we'll try to take one day at a time.

"We're slow enough getting out this season. We're getting into gear very slowly now.

"I'm hoping they stay right. A few were coughing. We had to stop for about a fortnight. I just didn't want to work too many of the horses.

"That held us up a little bit but, fortunately, it seemed to be the fillies that got sick.

"One or two of the horses did, but I think that's all gone out of the yard now.

"If we can just keep them right I'd be hoping for the best," the County Carlow handler told At The Races.

The Noel Meade-trained Go Native leads the opposition in the Grade One heat, with Dermot Weld's classy dual-purpose runner Unaccompanied also in the field.

The Eddie Harty-trained Captain Cee Bee completes the line-up after his recent Grade Two success at Tipperary.