Five face Ligeonniere in Normans Grove Arvika Ligeonniere leads a select field of six for the Normans Grove Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old was pulled up when well fancied for the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham, but had previously confirmed his undoubted class in the Tied Cottage at Punchestown on heavy ground, and was beaten less than two lengths in third behind Benefficient in the Paddy Power Dial-A-Bet Chase over Christmas. Leading the opposition is stablemate Twinlight, although he has to bounce back from a distant odds-on reverse at Naas in February. Lexus sixth Foildubh represents John Ryan as he bids to follow up his success in this race 12 months ago, while Tony Martin's Grand Annual hero Savello steps up to Grade Two company following his Festival heroics, where he beat Noel Meade's Ned Buntline in an Irish one-two. Davy Russell keeps the ride. On a cracking card, champion trainer Mullins runs three in the Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Hurdle, including Wicklow Brave, who ran well for such a long way in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham. City Slicker and Valseur Lido complete the Mullins squad in a race in which Edward O'Grady's Kitten Rock could be anything having won his two starts over hurdles in a canter. Barry Geraghty rides for the first time. Apache Stronghold is the star attraction in the Coolmore NH Sires Fame And Glory & Sans Frontieres Novice Hurdle, as the Meade-trained six-year-old looks to make it three from three over timber on his first run since landing the Monksfield Novice Hurdle at Navan in November.
