El Fabiolo will face five rivals when making his seasonal debut in the Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase on Sunday.

One of the potential superstars of the season headlines Cork’s feature Grade 2 contest as the Willie Mullins-trained six-year-old aims to add his name to an elite roll of honour for the prestigious Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase.

Mullins has claimed the last four renewals with Energuemene (2021 and 2022) Chacun Pour (2020) and Cilaos Emery (2019) while Un De Sceaux and Douvan are also among the former Closutton residents to have scored here. 

English Grand National runner-up Vanillier and Cheltenham Festival winner Maskada add intrigue to Sunday’s showpiece, which will also be shown live on RTÉ Television. 

Like El Fabiolo, Vanillier will be starting his campaign this weekend and having his first racecourse start since following home Corach Rambler in jump racing’s most famous race at Aintree, while Maskada does have the benefit of a previous run this season when finishing fourth at Clonmel last month. 

Maskada will be joined by his stable companion Jungle Bookie, while Rebel Gold will represent Pat Foley. 

Gordon Elliott has saddled 27 winners in the last three weeks and will bring another strong team to Cork on Sunday with the talented Fil Dor his representative in the Hilly Way Chase. 

The Jack Kennedy-ridden five-year-old is the youngest runner in the field and Elliott is fully aware of the tough task that awaits on Sunday.

“We were delighted with Fil Dor at Naas and he’s in good form ahead of Sunday,” Elliott reported on Friday. “Naas was his first run of the season and his first run back over fences so there was a lot of positives but obviously we are taking on a very good horse on Sunday in El Fabiolo. Our lad is in good form, has a run under his belt and there is no point in shying away from one horse. Hopefully he’ll run well.”
 
A fascinating supporting card on Sunday features the O’Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase in which Mullins and Elliott are again due to lock horns. 
Mullins saddles Hauturiere, Heia and Zenta, the latter being a really interesting runner as the four-year-old Grade 1 winning hurdler makes her debut over fences for owner JP McManus. 

Elliott’s Harmonya Maker overturned Brandy Love when winning her beginners chase at Gowran Park last month and did so in fine style. 

Elliott is hoping Harmonya Maker can add to her 11-length victory on that occasion when returning to graded company. 

“We couldn’t have asked for more from Harmonya Maker at Gowran and she’s in good form,” Elliott said. “This was the next obvious race for her and we’ll see where we go from here for the rest of the season with her.”

Con O’Keeffe’s Silent Approach completes the runners in the Grade 2 novice chase. 
 
Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore combined to win the Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle with Hiddenvalley Lake last season and have strong claims again on Sunday with Mahon’s Way. 

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned Mahon’s Way won comfortably on his hurdle debut at Naas four weeks ago steps up to three miles to take on course and distance winner Solitary Man for Enda Bolger and Darragh O’Keeffe. 

What Path, second to Solitary Man on their last start, is the Willie Mullins-trained representative, while Search For Glory will bid to give Gordon Elliott a first ever win in this Grade 3 event which also features the Sam Curling-trained Sarah Beara. 

The first on a seven race card is due off at 12.15pm.