QUISCOVER FONTAINE has some famous footsteps to follow in at Thurles this afternoon but the Willie Mullins-trained horse can still secure valuable Grade Two honours.

He is one of 10 lining up for the Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle which last year was won by the Mullins-trained Cooldine.

That horse is now one of the favourites for the RSA Chase at Cheltenham in two weeks’ time but he missed out on the festival last year and ran in this race instead.

Quiscover Fontaine looks to be following a similar route except that he is now being raised to two and a half miles for the first time after three victories at the minimum distance.

The hike in trip should suit the five-year-old and it will be interesting to see how he fares against high-class horse like Donnas Palm.

Mullins is represented by the course and distance winner Irish Invader in the Cashel Chase where the top-rated runner will be Sunday’s Newlands Chase winner Carthalawn.

The drop back to two miles worked the oracle for the Charles Byrnes runner at the weekend but he has an extra quarter of a mile to travel now under Davy Russell who is back in the saddle.

On soft ground that could make Carthalawn vulnerable and if he is then Ponmeoath could take advantage based on the evidence of a fine third to Cailin Alainn and Glenfinn Captain in the Kinloch Brae here over two and a half.

Tawagg came up a short head behind Herkel over the course and distance of today’s two-mile maiden hurdle on his last start and this looks a good opportunity to go one better.

Here Comes Sally is an interesting contender for the opening mares chase considering she beat Northern Alliance at Punchestown last April off a hurdles mark of 115.