Hegrid has been in cracking form over hurdles this year and now that he runs on the flat for the first time in 27 months, Tony Martin's horse looks like he will be hard to beat in today's Ulster Cesarewitch at Downpatrick.

Fran Berry's mount is on an official rating 5lb lower than his last start on the level but looks a different proposition these days on the back of a productive spring and summer that includes a fifth in the Galway Hurdle.

The ground is expected to dry out significantly for today's fixture and that should suit Kevin Prendergast's mount Dawla who broke her maiden on fast ground at Listowel while Saddler's Lass, third at the Galway festival, looks the one to beat in the bumper.

Grand Revival is an interesting newcomer to the jumping game in the opening maiden hurdle but the luckless Monoceros will hardly get a better chance to lose his maiden tag.