After four days of quality, Punchestown stages what can only be described as a day of quantity with five of the races scheduled to contain 30 runners and most of those holding little appeal as serious betting propositions.

However one possible exception could be McCracken in the opening maiden hurdle and trainer Noel Meade must be happy that the original card was re-scheduled from a rain-soaked Ballinrobe less than a fortnight ago.

Admittedly McCracken was an expensive horse to follow on the flat last season, being placed four times before scoring at Navan, but he did at least show he is effective on quick ground.

An expected winning hurdling debut at Down Royal last November was spoiled by a mistake at the second last flight. But McCracken should be more at home on this surface and is preferred to his likeliest danger Christy Senior.

Another possibility could be Lord Grey in the novice handicap hurdle. Barry Geraghty's mount ran on well to score on good ground at Clonmel last time and there is every chance Lord Grey has even come on from that.

Gowran gets a big summer season of racing going tomorrow with a mixed card.

The weather forecast is for "good to yielding" ground, but an ability to go on quick ground should be needed.

Three Clouds hasn't proven that, and he also has a dam that proved quite quirky in training, but there was a lot to like about his debut third to Grand Finale at the course last month and the form of the race has worked out really well. He looks the answer to the Glanbia Classic Trial.

The ground could prove the key to Desert Eclipse going well at a price in the mile handicap while Copernicus must surely be hard to beat in the maiden hurdle.