Today's Naas card is conditional on the course surviving a 7.00 inspection this morning. The track passed a test at noon yesterday but the emphasis on "heavy" in the forecast ground description is emphasised by the fact that starting stalls will not be in use.

Should it get the go-ahead, the emphasis will very much be on stamina, even in the opening six furlong maiden. The trip and the conditions, however, should be less harmful to Crystal Wind than most and the Kevin Prendergast-trained colt will also have to carry this column's nap on his back.

The Common Grounds colt wound up last season by finishing second to Andy Dufresne in the listed Eyrefield Stakes at Leopardstown. That race was over nine furlongs while today's is just six, but on the evidence of Crystal Wind's seasonal debut at the Curragh last Sunday it should not be a problem.

Crystal Wind ranged up two furlongs out as if he was set to give Lizop and the highly-regarded Playacting a real race. Ultimately he weakened to finish a four length third, but he looked to cope with the Curragh's heavy going satisfactorily and should not have a problem today. Speed wise, he had little problem travelling easily in his last race, and with that run under his belt, he looks a reasonable bet to cope with the likes of Missing The Beat and Coconut Creek, even though the latter has been working with some of Aidan O'Brien's best three-year-olds.

The two other flat races on the card are handicaps, and another animal who has already run at the Curragh this season looks the solution to the Celbridge Handicap.

Rosarium ran behind Shanko on the opening day of the season, beaten a length and a half over six furlongs. Shanko has since won again, and the impression left by Rosarium that day was that today's extra furlong will suit. Like A Lion won at Fairyhouse and Gowran before going to Cheltenham's Coral Cup, where he ran an absolute blinder in fourth behind Top Cees. He finished only three lengths off the winner after being bang in contention over the last, and although he has to give weight away in today's Kildare Hurdle, he should be up to winning again. The Newbridge Handicap could see Michael O'Brien's Blue Jumbo follow up a handicap win at Clonmel last November, while the Beginners' Chase could see Willie Mullins's Jensalee get his head in front.

In the north, Down Royal hosts a trappy-looking card where the ground will also be heavy, and possibly the most interesting horse on view is Rhythm Section, the former Cheltenham bumper winner.

Rhythm Section returned from a long layoff to run a most encouraging race at Clonmel in March when a 25 length third to Function Dream and the Thyestes winner, Letterlee. The Homer Scott-trained gelding looks easily the most talented performer in the Beginners' Chase and should win.

Garrett Cotter and Dessie Hughes can combine for a double with Executive Lawyer in the second division of the two-mile maiden hurdle and Indian Magic, runner-up to Site-Leader in a Wexford bumper last time, in the three-mile maiden hurdle.

Darbela, a dual winner on the flat for John Oxx, is an interesting newcomer in the first.