Tank up for Bond test Owner Barry Connell is confident the decision to supplement The Tullow Tank for the Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle will pay off at Fairyhouse on Sunday. The five-year-old ran twice over timber earlier in the year, finishing down the field behind the exciting Annie Power on one occasion, but retained his novice status for the new campaign as he failed to register a victory. He turned in a smart comeback performance when beating Turnandgo in a Naas maiden hurdle in early November, prompting connections to stump up the required fee to add him to this weekend's Grade One heat. The Tullow Tank's trainer, Philip Fenton, sent out Dunguib to win the race in 2009. Connell said: "I think his form is on a par with anything else in the race and that is why we decided to supplement him. It cost a bit of money, but I'd be very hopeful he could finish in the first three. "On paper this doesn't look the strongest Grade One ever run and he's entitled to be there. I'm hopeful of a very big run." Willie Mullins saddles three of the 10 runners, with Ruby Walsh partnering runaway Wexford scorer Alonso. The champion trainer is also represented by Downpatrick winner Renneti and Tipperary winner Arctic Fire. "All my three have won one race each and maybe they are a little bit inexperienced for a race like this," said Mullins. "I think experience might be the key to the race, but at the same time they have all won their maiden hurdles nicely and we've got to ask them the question. "Ruby was keen enough to ride Alonso, so Paul Townend will ride Renneti and David Casey will ride Arctic Fire." Jessica Harrington is double-handed, saddling Gambling Girl and Mr Fiftyone. Harrington said: "Sunday is a big step up for Gambling Girl. She jumps and travels well, but she just wouldn't want the ground too heavy. "I took a risk running Mr Fiftyone just three days after he won his maiden, but I thought he ran with great credit. "He is a big, strong, galloping horse and he might just find two miles a bit short, but he is only four and I wouldn't like to run him over two and a half miles yet." Point-to-point winner Minella Foru has won each of his two starts over hurdles, most recently looking the part in a Grade Three at Navan. Trainer Eddie Harty said: "He has always been a nice horse and you don't want to get too carried away, but I was impressed with the way he quickened up from the second-last at Navan. "He's in good form and has come out of the Navan run well. It's a hot race and everything you'd expect to be in it is in it. We'll be a lot wiser a few hours after the race on Sunday. "He's done everything right. It's a step up again, it's a strong race and I'm looking forward to it. He's won twice over two miles now and I see no reason to change yet, but we always have options as he's a point-to-point winner." The field is completed by Gilt Shadow, Somethingwonderful and Very Wood.
