Fairyhouse Ryanair Gold Cup organisers hoping to attract Vatour

Fairyhouse’s Easter Sunday highlight may be known as the Ryanair Gold Cup for the first time but officials are keeping their fingers crossed the race will attract Vautour and continue a history of hosting some of the best novices in the sport.

Vautour is already officially rated Ireland’s top chaser after just four starts over fences, the last of which was a 15-length success in Cheltenham’s JLT which put the Willie Mullins-trained star at the top of next year’s Gold Cup betting.

Vautour is one of five Mullins horses among a total of 18 entries left in the Grade One after the five-day declaration stage, although the trainer is postponing final plans on running arrangements until “later in the week”.

Mullins has also left in the exciting mares Vroum Vroum Mag and Gitane Du Berlais.

Apache Stronghold and Valseur Lido chased home Vautour at Cheltenham and also remain in Sunday’s race, while Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown have five entries to choose from.

Sunday’s other Grade One is the Irish Stallion Farms Mares Novice Hurdle, which also has 18 left in, with Morning Run heading five Mullins entries.

Harry Fry has two of the four cross-channel entries, the Cheltenham-placed Bitofapuzzle and Desert Queen.