Slaney Hurdle preview Briar Hill puts his unbeaten record under Rules on the line as he aims to complete a hat-trick for the season in the Slaney Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday. The Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old was a 25-1 winner of the Champion Bumper at last year's Cheltenham Festival, but there was certainly no fluke about his brilliant display. He then barely broke sweat on his hurdling debut in a minor event at Wexford in November before taking Grade One honours in the two-runner Navan Novice Hurdle a month later. Briar Hill has to concede at least 7lb to his rivals, but is likely to be long odds-on to do so in the hands of Ruby Walsh. Mullins said: "We have been very pleased with him since Navan and we're looking forward to the race on Sunday. "He has to give weight away, but we have to take our chance and see what happens. We're hoping the ground will be all right for him." The champion trainer has also declared Upazo, who has won his last two starts at Fairyhouse. He is due to line up in the 32Red Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, but will join Briar Hill at Naas if racing is abandoned in Esher. Noel Meade relies upon Very Wood, having decided against saddling the exciting Apache Stronghold. The latter was due to meet Briar Hill in the Navan Novice Hurdle until a last-minute setback meant he had to be withdrawn. Meade said: "We just decided not to run the two of them against each other. He (Apache Stronghold) is fine. "Briar Hill is giving us (Very Wood) 10lb, which will be a help, but he has been very impressive and you'd imagine he'll be hard to beat. "I do think the trip will suit our horse and the ground will be in his favour as well, so we'll see how we get on." The field is completed by the Dessie Hughes-trained Apache Jack, who looked much improved when striking over hurdles at the fourth attempt at Punchestown in early December.
