Expression is the pick for Slaney

GORDON ELLIOTT'S FREE EXPRESSION can maintain his unbeaten record in Sunday's Slaney Hurdle and set up the prospect of a trip to Cheltenham in March for which he is currently 16/1 best priced with Boylesports for the Neptune Investments Novices' Hurdle.

A point-to-point winner a year ago at Dromahane, the six-year-old son of Germany went on to land a nice touch in the Fairyhouse point-to-point bumper at Easter before making a winning start over hurdles at Naas in November and following that up with victory at Navan just later that month.

The Navan run marked a step up in grade as he tackled Grade Two company but he still came out on top despite running greenly and being described as "a big baby" by his trainer Elliott (pictured). The form of the Navan race has worked out considerably well with the third place, Rock The World, winning and finishing second since, while Kauto Grand Mogol who was fourth, also won on his next start and Martello Tower landed the Limerick feature on Monday.

There's no doubt that Free Expression can't afford to be too green in this company against the likes of Tell Us More, who is also putting an unbeaten record on the line after stringing together a hat-trick with a win in a point-to-point, a bumper and a maiden hurdle, but JP McManus could well have an above average novice on his hands who should take some beating on Sunday.

Cork stage a novice hurdle as their first race tomorrow and the in-form Robert Tyner should leave his local track with that race in the bag as PULLED MUSSEL looks good enough to oblige and return to winning ways.