IRISH RACING SUNDAY PREVIEW: SOME OF the best staying hurdlers in Ireland line up at Navan tomorrow for the Grade Two Phillips Electronics Lismullen Hurdle where Kazal can confirm his position as the top rated, writes Brian O'ConnorRacing Correspondent
Kazal earned that position with an outstanding effort in last March's World Hurdle at Cheltenham when third to Inglis Drever and in the circumstances could be forgiven a rather lack-lustre subsequent effort at Punchestown.
Eoin Griffin's star returns to action tomorrow against 10 opponents who include the former dual-champion hurdler Hardy Eustace, the Grade One winner Aitmatov, and the top mare Sweet Kiln.
Michael Bowe's horse won this race last year and was following in the footsteps of both former Bowe stars, Solerina (2004-05) and Limestone Lad (2002.)
Sweet Kiln will again be a major player but turning the race into a stamina test will be ideal for Kazal who would relish further than this two and a half miles but who will also be favoured by the likely testing conditions.
Some of the best two-mile chasers in this country will also be out in the day's other Grade Two event, the Fortria Chase, where a run over hurdles at Naas last month could give Schindlers Hunt a crucial edge.
Paddy Flood's mount is versatile in terms of ground conditions and doesn't have much to make up on Mansony form at Punchestown last April.
Both have to concede 11lb to Scotsirish but that one only made it to the third fence before exiting at Down Royal last weekend.
Noel Meade takes the wraps off Aran Concerto after a 607-day gap since his last race at Cheltenham 2007.
Meade has never made any secret of the regard he holds the seven-year-old in and despite being a Grade One winner over hurdles, chasing has always looked like being his real game.
Nevertheless he is returning after a long absence and he faces a classy sort in Horner Woods who is a course bumper winner as well as having picked up winning experience in the point-to-point field.
Meade's local track is usually kind to the former champion trainer though and it should be no exception this time with Pandorama likely to start favourite in the opener and Across The Bay sure to be fancied in the bumper.
Another Meade runner to check out should be Fisher Bridge whose two wins over flights means he has to concede weight in the Grade Three novice hurdle but who has also looked a smart jumping recruit into the bargain.
Down at Limerick Bandearg looks hard to oppose in the second handicap hurdle having just a 4lb penalty for winning by 16 lengths at Downpatrick on Wednesday.
