The highlight on Fairyhouse's New Year's Day card tomorrow may have only three runners but Klairon Davis and Merry Gale look set to provide a clash to bring the new year in with some style.
The other runner in the Jones Group Handicap Chase, Ever So Bold, is way out of the handicap and apparently way out of his depth so this two-mile contest looks a real head-to-head.
Merry Gale makes a quick reappearance after a fine effort in Sunday's Ericsson at Leopardstown. Turning for home in that three-mile race, Merry Gale looked a very tired horse but still finished only seven lengths off Imperial Call despite walking past the line.
That may say more about how tired Imperial Call got than anything else but Merry Gale has always looked a horse for whom three miles on very soft ground is slightly too far. Today's trip indeed looks too short and it will be interesting to see how much Sunday's race has taken out of Merry Gale.
As a former champion chaser, Klairon Davis is in his element over the minimum distance but he too has something to prove following a somewhat disappointing fourth to Ask Tom and Viking Flagship in Sandown's Tingle Creek Chase.
That was a very quickly run race though. Klairon Davis will be more at home on this track and on this ground and despite the 17lb weight concession to Merry Gale, he is impossible to oppose.
Arthur Moore's horses have been in such blinding form that it isn't that difficult to visualise him picking up a possible four-timer overall tomorrow at Fairyhouse.
Runner-up to Collon Leader at Clonmel last time, Regency Rake was only just edged out by All The Vowels at Naas before that on which form he looks to have the beating of the top weight in the handicap hurdle, Ciara's Prince.
Society Brief was noted running on very strongly to finish second to stable companion Scotia Nostra in a Thurles hurdle and is worth backing in the bumper while Papo Kharisma should improve enough from a Limerick fifth to Blasket Sound in November to hold a chance in the maiden hurdle.
The nap, however, goes to Ollimar in the opening maiden hurdle. Jim Dreaper's charge was no match for Native Estates on his last run at Navan but ran well for a long way and is preferred to Sawa-Id, runner up to Lord Dahl at Leopardstown, and Taoibhin, third to Royal Marine at the same track.
The other fixture on tomorrow is at Tramore where the executive will be hoping that the high winds blowing around the country will avoid the seaside track. At the moment, no inspection is planned for the ground and with the odds in racing's favour, Arthur Moore could again be the man to follow in the featured Dawn Meats Chase.
On the ratings, this horse comes out ahead of the likes of Fiftysevenchannels and Kharasar and should be up to winning after a recent good run over hurdles.
Others to note are Golden Gold who may be a touch of value in the Ladies Maiden Hurdle and Function Dream who ran a fine race last time out to be second to Raheen River at Clonmel. The Beginners' Chase presents her with what looks a winning chance.
David Nicholson and Richard Johnson walked away from Stratford with a 12 to 1 double after the victories of King On The Run and Coole Hill yesterday. They began the afternoon in the correct style as King On The Run took the first division of the Hartsthorne Motor Services Ltd (Walsall) Maiden Hurlde.
