There may be just three runners in tomorrow's £20,000 Fairyhouse feature but since it contains a former champion chaser and the reigning Grand National hero who can complain.
All eyes will be on Papillon who makes his second start of a season that is being geared towards another crack at the Aintree spectacular. Papillon is being quoted as low as 14 to 1 favourite for a repeat and is continuing his preparation over shorter distances.
The Normans Grove Chase is just over two miles but as he showed when overturning To Your Honour at Leopardstown over Christmas Papillon is a very sound operator over the shorter trips.
"There will probably be a lack of pace in the race but it will be a good school for him," trainer Ted Walsh said yesterday.
Pitted against Walsh's 148 rated runner are Mr Baxter Basics who is 7lb wrong on the handicapper's ratings and Klairon Davis, the former Queen Mother Champion Chase and Arkle Trophy winner, who sadly now seems to be a light of other days.
For many it will be a non-betting event with most content to keep an eye on Papillon's progress to Liverpool. It should continue to be winning progress.
In contrast Nomadic is taking his first steps over fences in the Beginners chase. The grey, rated 145 over hurdles and just off the top class, has been the subject of encouraging schooling reports and with Noel Meade's horses showing signs of a return to form, Nomadic is hard to bet against.
Dermot Weld plays an interesting unknown card with the Polish Precedent newcomer Direct Bearing but the fans of the Cheltenham bumper favourite Beechcourt will be looking to Prince Of Tara and Kefaaf for a confidence booster.
The pair finished second and third respectively to the Michael O'Brien trained runner at Leopardstown and if Beechcourt is everything he is cracked up to be then they might have been attempting mission impossible. Prince Of Tara is selected to confirm the form.
Ilaron gave favourite backers quite a fright when running the hotpot Regal Venture to a length at Navan and should go one better in the opener while Trevino is selected to bounce back to form in the novices hurdle.
