Gordon Elliott sends Cheltenham Festival contender Death Duty to Naas on Sunday to end Willie Mullins’ dominance in the race
Gordon Elliott's six-year-old has looked above average and now tackles the Grade 1 contest after three victories as he confirmed himself as one of Ireland's top prospects for the Cheltenham Festival
DEATH DUTY is the star name amongst six horses declared for the Lawlor's Hotel Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday.
Gordon Elliott's dual bumper winner made an impressive start to his career over jumps at Roscommon in October and has since completed a hat-trick with successive wins at Navan.
The six-year-old steps up to the highest level for the first time, with Jack Kennedy taking over in the saddle from the sidelined Bryan Cooper.
Gigginstown Stud manager Eddie O'Leary said: "Death Duty has been good, but he's taking on a couple of very good horses of Willie's (Mullins) and the other two of ours aren't bad, either."
The other two Gigginstown representatives are also in prolific form.
Death Duty's stable companion Blood Crazed Tiger has won his last four starts in total and is unbeaten in three starts over hurdles.
Noel Meade's Bel Ami Sivola was beaten on his hurdling bow at Down Royal last season, but was a runaway winner of a Punchestown bumper on his October return and has since won twice over timber.
"All three of them have a chance and hopefully one of them will get lucky," said O'Leary.
"It looks a good race and we'll see what happens."
Willie Mullins has saddled six previous winners of this Grade One contest, including the last three.
This year the Closutton handler fires a twin assault with impressive Punchestown scorer Turcagua joined by talented mare Augusta Kate, who is owned the likes of Alan Shearer, Ant & Dec and Lee Westwood.
Stable jockey Ruby Walsh has sided with Augusta Kate, who won three of her five starts in bumpers and scored as she liked on her first start over hurdles at Thurles in November.
Mullins' son and assistant, Patrick, said: "It's a big step up in class for Augusta Kate, but she's a very well-bred mare and she showed when she ran in the Champion Bumper last season, only beaten five lengths, she's capable of competing at the top level against geldings.
"She hurdled well on her debut in Thurles. That was over three miles, but her dam (Feathard Lady) was a Grade One winner over two, so hopefully coming back to two-and-a-half won't be an issue."
Of Turcagua, Mullins added: "He is a horse with a lot of ability and maybe his form doesn't reflect his home-work.
"He's had a few little issues, but we've had a clean run with him this season and he was very good in Punchestown.
"The ground, the trip and the track will all suit him and hopefully he can show he's up to this class."
The field is completed by Enda Bolger's Stand Up And Fight, who was beaten just over eight lengths into third by Death Duty at Navan in November.
