The €100,000 Powers Gold Cup is an intriguing focal point to the opening day of Fairyhouse's Easter Festival meeting and In Compliance looks capable of justifying some lofty future ambitions by maintaining his unbeaten record over fences.
Next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup has already been mentioned as a target for In Compliance whose late start to this novice campaign can pay off in style now.
Despite facile wins here and at Leopardstown, Michael O'Brien decided to bypass the Cheltenham Festival with the Old Vic gelding, who now faces the likes of Wild Passion, Missed That and Arteea who all had their limitations exposed in the Arkle last month. The most disappointing of that trio looked to be Missed That who was let down badly by his jumping.
In contrast Justified missed Cheltenham through illness and he does have a right-handed course to his advantage now. Nevertheless, a greater danger looks to be The Railway Man who was cantering at the top of the hill in the SunAlliance but didn't get home at all.
This trip should be ideal for him but preference is still for In Compliance who looks a potential top-notcher.
The quality for the Grade Three mares hurdle final is also high but if there's a class horse in the field it is surely Nina Carberry's mount Celestial Wave.
Adrian Maguire's charge won over two miles at Limerick last month but is now back to her best trip and looks capable of giving a lot of weight to Clear Riposte and Crème d'Arblay.
Mounthenry has been in prolific form this season and proved himself at the two-and-a-half-mile trip at Thurles last time. Charles Byrnes deliberately missed out on Aintree and Cheltenham to wait for this Grade Two hurdle but even though Mounthenry has a clear shout, the slightly better ground could see significant improvement in Mossbank.
Black Harry's only start to date was a defeat of the subsequent Cheltenham hero Hairy Molly last Christmas. His appearance in the bumper will be of significant interest.
The ex-Andre Fabre trained Ecole d'Art was a Stakes winner at Longchamp in 2004 and looks an interesting recruit to jumping in the maiden hurdle.
Timmy Murphy goes to Cork for the ride on Kilbeggan Lad in the Listed handicap hurdle and the combination of better ground and a flat track should see the Michael Hourigan runner go close. Master Marvel and Dame Noir both won at Limerick on Wednesday and 5lb penalties shouldn't hinder either.
