First into the fray is Dunguib, brilliant winner of the Champion Bumper here twelve months ago and unbeaten in four starts over timber. Philip Fenton’s superstar hasn’t always been the most fluent over his jumps but the likely stronger pace here should help in that regard and provided Brian O’Connell keeps it simple he should see off unbeaten Get Me Out Of Here and Blackstairmountain.

Captain Cee Bee looks the pick of a strong Irish challenge for the Arkle, where the likes of Sports Line, Sizing Europe and Somersby will all have their supporters.

The Champion Hurdle itself has a very open look to it this year, with Go Native – chasing that £1 million bonus – and Solwhit heading the market. Choosing between them is not easy, especially given the latter’s late scare and doubts over where the pace will come from. 2009 hero Punjabi looks certain to go well again though.

Garde Champetre is expected to continue his love affair with the Cross Country Chase by landing the spoils once again for Nina Carberry, while Voler La Vedette and last year’s heroine Quevega surely have the concluding Mares Hurdle between them.

Willie Mullins has opted to swerve next week’s extravaganza with last year’s Festival Bumper fifth Morning Supreme, and his decision may be rewarded with success in the Dawn Omega Milk EBF Mares Novice Hurdle. The daughter of Supreme Leader won her maiden here earlier in the season and may have too much pace for the unbeaten For Bill over today’s 2m trip.

Inistioge ran well when third to dead-heaters Telenor and Uimhiraceathair in the Ten Up Novice Chase at Navan and could go a couple of places better in the featured ITBA EBF Dawn Run Novice Chase. Garvan Donnelly’s charge is closely matched with top-weight Tally Em Up and Cara Mara on previous form but could be the most progressive of the trio.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novices Handicap Chase is possibly the pick of the action at Proudstown Park, and some sort of case can be made for the majority of the field. Hat-trick seeker Saddlers Storm is likely to head the market, but less exposed types such as Palace Merano, Puddencullinan and Flemensford are all fancied to get involved.

Quito De La Roque can come out on top in a well-contested 2m7f novice hurdle provided he handles the better ground than when he slogged his way to victory at Clonmel last time.

Clonmel scorer Sunshine Haven is unfortunately a late defector, leaving recent course runner-up Our Girl Salley as the likely market leader. Prunella Dobbs’ charge probably caught a tartar in Another Cliche last time and had previously won well at Punchestown.

Racing gets under way with a juvenile hurdle, where Point Of Light appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to get off the mark over jumps. The son of Pivotal was a prolific winner for Sir Mark Prescott on the level and shaped well when fourth on his debut for new connections at Gowran Park.

Liss Na Tintri took a heavy fall when coming to press for the lead at the final flight in a fair contest at Punchestown last month, and provided her confidence is unaffected the former high-class bumper performer should land the 2m3f mares maiden.

Carlowsantana probably should have won at Fairyhouse last time and will have his supporters in the 2m handicap hurdle, but the unexposed Braddock makes plenty of appeal here following an eye-catching handicap bow against behind gambled-on stable-companion Drussell at Fairyhouse.

The Barry Geraghty on attheraces.com Handicap is the feature event among the septet of races, and Charlie Swan’s admirable veteran Emmpat could be the answer to an open affair. Runner-up to tonight’s rival Bashkirov at tonight’s venue a couple of weeks ago, the Bigstone gelding should turn the tables at the revised weights with the benefit of that outing behind him. Another recent course winner Dancera may be best of the rest.

Dermot Weld has three good chances during the evening, and the pick of them may be Brushed Aside in the 7f 3yo fillies maiden. The daugher of Oasis Dream had some good form as a juvenile and hopefully will not be unduly hindered by her wide draw.

Eddie Lynam is another trainer with plenty of runners, and his course specialist Russian View makes plenty of appeal in the opening 7f handicap with Fran Berry aboard.

Ruby Walsh has built up a good rapport with The Corby Glenn, and the champion jockey will have high hopes of notching another victory on the Ray McGlinchey-trained gelding in the 2m4f handicap chase. The pair were never in much danger at Fairyhouse last time.

Walsh also holds obvious claims aboard Psycho in a fascinating beginners chase, where Kazal returns from a very lengthy spell on the sidelines for another crack at the larger obstacles.

Willie Mullins has been fairly cleaning up in bumpers of late, and his newcomer Up The Beat commands automatic respect in the finale. However False Economy could give him plenty to think about following a fair effort behind A Fine Young Man at Naas on Sunday.

Dermot Weld is set to saddle two high-profile contenders for next week’s Festival bumper, and is responsible for the likely favourite for the second of two races in that category today. His newcomer Fort Defiance is a well-bred son of Dalakhani, and with ground conditions drying out all the time he may be capable of obliging at the first time of asking.

Gagewell Flyer has been off the track for almost exactly a year since finishing down the field in last year’s Festival Bumper, but that is unlikely to prevent bookmakers putting the Deploy gelding in short for the 2m3f maiden hurdle. Taking Stock and Bootlegger have already shown enough ability to suggest they are well capable of taking advantage of any ring-rustiness or jumping mistakes from Willie Mullins’ charge.

Forestside caught the eye when making late progress into third behind Grey Soldier at today’s venue last month, and provided French import Sweet My Lord isn’t a superstar can go a couple of place better in the opening 2m maiden.

Just eight runners are set to go to post for the €32,500 contest, and quite a few of them have been out of sorts of late. Rare Bob himself disappointed on his most recent public appearance at Fairyhouse in January but that was his first run since landing a Grade 1 novice chase at the Punchestown Festival and he is sure to be a lot sharper now. Kings Advocate may give him most to do.

Zaarito’s career over fences to date has been blighted by jumping frailties, but Colm Murphy’s charge has been found an excellent opportunity top bounce back from two recent falls in the 2m4f novice chase. The likes of Beckett Rock, Pesoto and Whatuthink all have questions to answer themselves, while recent hurdle winner Lastoftheleaders is worth watching for future reference.

Whodoyouthink was far from disgraced against Dunguib and co in the Grade 1 Deloitte Novice Hurdle last time and has obvious prospects of capitalising on a drop in class in the opening 2m novice hurdle. The promising Silver Friend, unbeaten in two starts}, will probably give him most to do.

The concluding bumper has been won by such classy types as Coole River, An Cathaoir Mor and Venalmar in recent years, and the former’s trainer Jessica Harrington may have the answer once more in the shape of Fairyhouse runner-up Oscars Well.

Michael Cunningham’s ten year-old, who has blinkers fitted for the first time today rather than the usual cheek pieces, will have the assistance of last year’s successful jockey Paul Townend. The novice Sigma Lifestyle, another with headgear applied for the first time, may give him most to do.

Last time out winners Miss Mary Mac and Spare Shilling clash with useful types Maryiver and Rossdara in the valuable mares novice hurdle. The first-named may well justify the long trip from her Co Clare base if fully wound up for her first start since September.

Mighty Massini, representing local handler Colin McBratney, sets the standard in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase, while recent Fairyhouse scorer Nedzer’s Return ought to be very hard to beat with a reproduction of that effort in the hunters chase.

Owner Rich Ricci, one of the sport’s great enthusiasts, is a banker by trade and openly admitted that the risk-taker in him would lean towards letting his star make the trip. However the engaging American also spoke of being conscious of the fear of jeopardising future Gold Cup bids, and as such he will take the valuable counsel of Walsh and trainer Willie Mullins on board before a final call is made on this most delicate of matters. It would therefore be no surprise if it is felt more prudent to delay “Mikael”’s eagerly-awaited reappearance, and if that scenario does indeed materialise perhaps an easier starting point in an ordinary beginners chase followed by another trip to Punchestown could be on the cards.
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It’s only two weeks now until the biggest week in the racing calendar, and Cheltenham Festival preview season is once again in full swing. I must admit that with the country slipping further into recession over the past twelve months it would have been no great surprise to see interest in these events nosedive, but it appears nothing could be further from the truth ; if anything there are more than ever this year, spread across the length and breadth of the country, many of them featuring high-profile names from cross-channel.

I already have two under my belt, including a particularly raucous affair after racing at Leopardstown which eventually drew to a close just before midnight. Several members of the crowd appeared a touch the worse for wear after presumably spending the entire day at the Dublin track, and one gentleman in particular had a real bee in his bonnet regarding War Of Attrition’s reported unlikely participation in the Grand National. (Yes I know it’s a Cheltenham preview, but sometimes it’s impossible not to digress). With no Mouse Morris to vent his ire upon, the punter in question focussed his attention on the former Gold Cup winner’s regular rider Davy Russell and when not even the latter’s revelation that he would try to persuade the camp to reconsider their decision could placate him it was finally time to sound the bell for the end of the round.

Further trips to the likes of Wicklow (tonight), Limerick (Thursday), Belfast (next Monday) and Omagh lie ahead before the circuit finally winds down in my home town of Malahide on Thursday week, and I will be very grateful for the opportunity of giving the batteries a much-needed recharging prior to the annual pilgrimage to the Cotswolds.

As far as the competitive fare is concerned, the Grade 2 Newlands Chase – transferred from Naas – tops the bill and Tranquil Sea’s connections will be optimistic that their pride and joy can take the 2m contest en route to a tilt at the Ryanair Chase. Aran Concerto, Made In Taipan and Grand National hopes Snowy Morning and Ballyholland are also among a really good field.

Citizen Vic sprang a mild surprise when capturing the Grade 1 Dr PJ Moriarty Novice Chase here on Hennessy Day and if coping with the drop to 2m1f should be very hard to beat in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase.

Araucaria, who is many people’s idea of a lively contender for the Festival Bumper, will need to win the finale to justify the trip to the Cotswolds.

There are several likely short-priced favourites at the day’s other fixture at Clonmel, and Taradoun may prove the pick of them in the 2m4f beginners chase now that Dallaglio is an absentee.