Weighty issue for Slicker

Willie Mullins feels City Slicker faces a “tough task” as he aims to defy a steep hike in the weights in an ultra-competitive renewal of the Ladbroke Hurdle today.

A runaway winner of a Fairyhouse bumper last December, it took the five-year-old four attempts to get off the mark over hurdles, but he did so in some style at Punchestown in May.

Making his handicap debut at the same track last month, the JP McManus-owned gelding proceeded to make every yard of the running and barely came off the bridle, taking his right-handed record to three from three.