FAIRYHOUSE PREVIEW:THE TWO top-rated horses at Fairyhouse today line up in the opening conditions hurdle and Alaivan can get the better of Carlito Brigante in their match race.

They have already clashed twice, with Alaivan finishing ahead of his rival when third in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham, having been well beaten by Carlito Brigante in a Grade Two the previous Christmas.

Both are rated 140 but Carlito Brigante has indicated this season that trips in excess of two miles may suit him better now while Alaivan was impressive at Naas earlier in the season.

A hugely interesting runner in the Beginners Chase is Mr Nosie, who has his first start in almost five years for new trainer Dessie Hughes.

The ex-Noel Meade runner was unbeaten in four starts before going to Cheltenham 2006, where he finished fourth to stable companion Nicanor and Denman in the SunAlliance Hurdle.

This will be the 10-year-old’s first start since, and while it will be interesting to see how Mr Nosie gets on, a safer option may be Time Electric, a runner-up to Bob Lingo over the course and distance on New Year’s Day.

Arctic Mick thrived on soft going at Navan last Tuesday when winning a chase off a mark of 93. Michael O’Hare is keen to run the horse in today’s two-and-a-half- mile handicap hurdle where he races off a mark almost a stone lower.

Champion trainer Willie Mullins looks to have the answer to the bumper with Tusa Eire, who came up only a neck short of Willie John at Naas almost four weeks ago.

Tullintain’s stable has been in noticeably good form recently and the Punchestown winner can defy a 9lb penalty in the handicap chase.