Duty out to dazzle in Drinmore Death Duty puts his unbeaten record over fences and huge reputation on the line in the Bar One Racing Drinmore Novice Chase at Fairyhouse on Sunday. Gordon Elliott has never made any secret of the regard in which he holds the six-year-old and he lived up the billing by winning two bumpers and his first four starts over hurdles last season. He blotted his copybook when unseating his rider in the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival and was only third at Punchestown, but he has reignited his career with chase victories at Tipperary and Punchestown this autumn. Elliott told At The Races: "This race has been the plan, he's in great form and we couldn't be happier with him. "It's a good race. I was of the opinion last year that he wanted three miles and I just might have been wrong the way he won over two miles and two furlongs at Punchestown the last day." Elliott, who has previously won the Drinmore with Jessies Dream (2010), Don Cossack (2013) and No More Heroes (2015), also saddles two high-class mares in Shattered Love and Dinaria Des Obeaux. Dinaria Des Obeaux is particularly interesting having won each of her two starts over fences and as four-year-old, she receives significant weight from each of her rivals. "Dinaria Des Obeaux is getting 15lb, so if she's ever going to beat them it could be on Sunday. She's well and hopefully she runs well," Elliott added. Willie Mullins is double-handed as he chases a fourth victory in the race. Paul Townend has sided with impressive Tipperary Grade Three winner Rathvinden over stablemate Townshend, the mount of Danny Mullins. "Rathvinden has a chance and there's Townshend as well. Race fitness might give Rathvinden the edge" said the champion trainer. Completing the field is the Noel Meade-trained Snow Falcon. The seven-year-old was runner-up on his debut over fences at Naas three weeks ago and Meade feels he has nothing to lose by throwing him in at the deep end. "You can run in a beginners chase and run into a Grade One horse of Willie's or Gordon's, so you might as well run in a Grade One and see how you get on," he said. "I was happy enough with the way he ran at Naas. The most important thing was to get around and the winner just got away from him. "He's in good nick. I think he's actually in better shape for Sunday than he was the last day."
