With the absolute top-notchers such as Florida Pearl and Dorans Pride keeping their powder dry until Christmas, today's £50,000 John Durkan Chase provides an extremely valuable pot for a field that could be regarded as just below the highest level.
Of the eight runners, only Jeffell doesn't hold an entry in the Ericsson Chase on December 28th, but Christmas will be far from the minds of connections today. Still, it may enter Mouse Morris' calculations if His Song begins to live up to his potential by winning.
The likes of Imperial Call, Dorans Pride and Carvills Hill have won this race in the 1990s, and ever since his novice hurdle days His Song has been hailed as having the same sort of promise. The wheels came off the rails of that campaign somewhat towards the end of last season and His Song hasn't won in two attempts so far this term. That can change here.
Ridden for pace at Clonmel last time, His Song looked all over the winner from some way out against Dorans Pride, but when they touched down after the last, the strapping gelding found disappointingly little against an admittedly top-flight opponent.
Stamina has never looked likely to be a problem for His Song, and ridden more aggressively here he looks capable of dominating a field that includes some very decent performers.
Hill Society is game and consistent and deservedly scored at Fairyhouse last weekend, but he does look vulnerable over two-and-a-half miles on deep ground. Rince Ri made a mistake in the Troytown at Navan, but it was still slightly disappointing to see him beaten so far by His Song's stablemate Foxchapel King.
Unlike Rince Ri, Delphi Lodge doesn't have to concede weight, but he too may prefer better going.
His Song, however, can justify Adrian Maguire's decision to operate in Ireland today and in the process set himself up for a tilt at the Christmas big guns.
Maguire could also be on the mark on the mud-loving mare No Avail, who has an attractive light weight in the two-and-a-half mile handicap hurdle.
But a mouthwatering clash for punters looks in store in the novice hurdle. Sendawar's brother Senanjar created a huge impression when scooting up on his hurdling debut at Gowran in December, but he now has to take on the older Champagne Native, who has been the apple of trainer Tom Taaffe's eye ever since his winning debut at Naas. After that Champagne Native won at Fairyhouse and despite not jumping fluently opened his account over hurdles at Cork on May 1st. He is sure to have been schooled extensively since, and on this ground he is preferred to the younger horse.
Pellegrini can boost the form of Youlneverwalkalone in the opener, while Section Seven is a speculative choice to pick up the Conyngham Cup.
