Trainer Michael Hourigan and his jockey son Paul may be aiming principally at Sunday's Hennessy Gold Cup and the return to fences of Dorans Pride, but the stable can get a timely confidence boost at Clonmel today, courtesy of The Mighty Sparrow and Stevie Dee.

The Mighty Sparrow goes in Maher Maiden Hurdle which, as Clonmel maiden hurdles go, looks quite a hot little contest. Gortmore Mews has won bumpers at Wexford and Gowran but hasn't run in nine months; Hat Or Halo is also a dual bumper winner and had a third taken away by the stewards at Navan last time; while The Mighty Sparrow won a Punchestown bumper two months ago by 11 lengths.

The runner-up in that race was It Takes Time who subsequently won twice at Leopardstown, on the last occasion beating the Cheltenham candidate and Gowran scorer Tuesday.

Hat Or Halo is the likely SP favourite today but he and the selection swopped placings during their early bumper careers and there doesn't appear a lot between them. What could swing it the Hourigan camp's way is their horse's likeness for racing close to the pace over this comparatively tight course.

Stevie Dee couldn't get a blow in at Dawn Vision over two miles and six at Tramore last time but still ran a decent race and looks to hold as good a chance as any in the 20-runner Chawke Handicap Hurdle.

The nap, however, goes to Golden Domer in the opening maiden hurdle. Willie Slattery's mount was completely tailed off behind Donna's Princess at Tramore but ran an eyecatching sixth to Ojay at Gowran a week ago. That rate of improvement, coupled with a weak-looking race, looks enough to give this one a good chance at a good price.