Today's £70,000 Marlborough.ie Handicap, formerly the Golden Pages, is always one of the most open contests of the year, but Avorado can yet again confirm Jim Bolger's remarkable race record.

Bolger's domination of the Leopardstown highlight in recent years is well documented and he runs two this time round. Masnada will be ridden by Seamus Heffernan, but it is Avorado who is likely to receive most of the punters attention.

The Carlow-based trainer won seven of the last 12 Golden Pages and Avorado appears to pose a typically dangerous threat to the bookies.

The three-year-old is a course winner over seven furlongs and last time out over six at the Curragh, Avorado overcame having to be switched for a run to put two lengths between himself and Eveam.

Such a running pattern might suggest a stamina doubt but Avorado has already run over a mile and a quarter here behind Galileo and being out of a Sadler's Wells mare, this nine furlongs should not be a problem.

As always, the opposition is plentiful in this handicap and it could be that Bolger's great rival, Dermot Weld, provides the main dangers. The Curragh trainer has won this race three times himself and appears to primarily rely today on the Curragh winner, Diamond Trim.

However, it might be unwise to write off Supreme Certainty as an each-way option since the 6lb rise in the weights sees him sitting perfectly into the bottom of the handicap. There is also the evidence of a reasonable reappearance on the course earlier this month, a fifth placing to Livadiya last year and the not inconsiderable plus of the champion apprentice Tom Queally taking 5lb off his back.

Diamond Trim beat Irish Empire by a length at the Curragh last time and has obvious claims but as per usual in this race, a lot of focus will be on the Bolger runners, particularly Avorado who looks the ideal progressive type.

The day's black type contest is the www.ppg.ie Challenge Stakes which sees Chimes At Midnight and Mediterranean, the first two home in the Curragh Cup, take each other on again. However, they will do well to cope with Vinnie Roe who is upped in trip following a seventh to Galileo in the Irish Derby and a fourth to Morshdi in the Derby Italiano.

Frosty Wind drops back a furlong from two Naas victories for the opener where his blistering early pace should see him with a first-rate chance.

Tipperary tomorrow hosts a very valuable card when Grimes looks set to pick up the £40,000 Betdaq Hurdle and River Cora can confirm his Galway credentials in the Tote Plate Trial.

Grimes, at his best, should have little difficulty coping with the likes of Quinze and Kilcash Castle and a fast-run two miles around a flat track like this should give him every chance of being at his best.

The big chase is a much less straightforward affair, however, with last year's Plate hero Dovaly heading the weights.

Arthur Moore runs both the Kilbeggan winner, Fier Goumier, and Royal Marine off the bottom of the handicap, but again the flat Tipperary track can play a part as it should be ideal for River Cora.