The first meeting west of the Shannon this year takes place at Ballinrobe today with a trappy looking seven-race card where Bahao looks the safest bet to make a winning chasing debut in the Beginners Chase.
David Casey's mount has the most impressive looking hurdles form of this field including defeats of Finnegans Hollow at Thurles and Kilspindie at Naas already this year.
A horse that is effective from the front, he should be able to avoid any trouble that might occur in the race and if jumping adequately will be hard to beat.
West Cork trainer Andrew Lane makes the long journey to Mayo with Gaelic Probe for the maiden hurdle and despite the presence of Call My Bluff and Alotawanna is taken to make that trek pay off.
Alotawanna will probably start favourite, especially with Tom Taaffe's string in the sort of good form that saw Delphi Lodge win Tuesday's Power Gold Cup.
Dermot Weld has got his team sparking early in the flat season and the point can be emphasised with possibly a couple of more winners this afternoon.
The Caerleon filly Sans Prix has had a run already, at the Curragh 11 days ago, and she didn't do too badly at all when fourth to the classic hopeful Shahtoush over a mile. The extra furlong of the opener should be no problem and Sans Prix is taken to beat the consistent Shalazar.
Weld's Vintage Display ran last on Monday at Cork when third to Sir True Blue in an apprentices race and with the benefit of that run under his belt, he should make his presence felt in the nine furlong handicap.
