If Aidan O'Brien changed the habits of a lifetime and said his candidate for a race like the Phoenix Stakes couldn't be beaten, then it's fair to say there would be a sizable rush towards the bookmakers ring. Tomorrow's Ballymore Properties Hatton's Grace Hurdle presents a similar opportunity with Sweet Kiln on the verge of adding to an already remarkable story in the Grade One winter festival highlight at Fairyhouse.

The Bowe family's record in the €100,000 event of six wins in the last eight years is an astounding one considering the relatively small numbers operated by the owner-breeder set-up in Gathabawn. In fact three wins each by Limestone Lad (1999, 2001, 2002) and Solerina (2003-05) represents the sort domination usually associated with O'Brien's blue-blooded juvenile team at the Curragh.

However, this record hasn't been carved out of short summer sprints but rather in the winter slog of two-and-a-half-mile marathons in testing conditions. In all the circumstances then, the fact that Michael Bowe and his father, James, have come up with another genuine Hatton's Grace candidate just two years after Solerina's last win in a stunning achievement.

All it needs now is for Sweet Kiln to write the perfect ending, and crucially, the man who knows what it takes to win the race better than anyone else is confident she can.

A hugely impressive defeat of Rosaker in the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan provided more than a few echoes of Limestone Lad and Solerina in their prime and it indicated to Michael Bowe that Sweet Kiln is still improving.

"She does seem to be improving with age and if I can get her to Sunday in the same condition, and in the same frame of mind, I couldn't see her beaten," he said.

"I know people said the other horses weren't at their best but she could hardly have done it any better."

Rosaker, runner-up to Brave Inca in this race last year, is back for another try but it's his young stable companion, Aitmatov, who has been Sweet Kiln's biggest rival all week in ante-post betting. Along with the top-class two-miler Macs Joy who is having just his second race beyond the minimum trip, he represents a stalking threat to Sweet Kiln tomorrow.

But Aitmatov's trainer Noel Meade summed it up nicely when he said: "The Bowes look to have another super horse and when you end up against them, you know they're going to make you work!"

An unsettled weekend forecast means that the Fairyhouse going may end up softer than some expect which will be no problem to Sweet Kiln but which will present a new challenge to the brilliant Cork All Star in the Bar-One Royal Bond Novice Hurdle.

Jessica Harrington's horse proved that brilliance in the Cheltenham bumper last season but all his form is on a decent surface and tomorrow's assignment is a relative unknown. However, the same comment also applies to Captain Cee Bee and Megans Joy so favourite backers are likely to keep the faith.

The third of tomorrow's Grade One's, the Drinmore Chase, sees a major handicap winner in French Accordion take on a jumping newcomer in Kazal with Sky's The Limit also thrown in to the mix after a spectacular return to winning form at Cork. However, there was also plenty to like about the way Line Ball returned to action himself after a 14-month absence and Christy Roche's lightly-raced six-year-old will relish any testing conditions.

Roche also looks to have decent prospects in the three-mile handicap hurdle with Silent Creek who ran well over two miles at Punchestown last time out while down at Clonmel, Robert Tyner can pick up both Beginners Chase races with the Pierse winner Spring The Que and the high-class mare Callherwhatulike.