MORE than one of the horses that were Cheltenham principals have run disappointingly since the Festival but it will be a shock if Kiairon Davis cannot win today's Oliver Freany and Dan Moore Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse.

The conditions of the race are stacked in the former champion chaser's favour with the minimum weight of 10st 11lb meaning that his five opponents are all racing from out of the handicap.

Francis Woods reported after Klairon Davis ran fourth in last month's Queen Mother Champion Chase that the ground there had been faster than ideal but yesterday trainer Arthur Moore wasn't too concerned about today's forecasted good to firm going and reports that Klairon Davis has come out of Cheltenham in fine form.

There will be no ground doubts about the likes of Beakstown and Cable Beach but Klairon Davis should still win this.

Ground was also a concern for John Berry before he ran his giant gelding Liver Bird at Naas last time but in the end, Liver Bird seemed to thrive on the fast going and ran out a very impressive five and a half length winner from Super Dealer.

With that vital knowledge that the seven-year-old can show his best on a variety of surfaces, Liver Bird is difficult to oppose in the O'Dea Festival Novices Hurdle.

Aidan O'Brien's Moscow Express may carry top-weight and have won his last three but he looked to take a lot of interest in a lot of other things besides racing before he ran on close home to beat Mr Baxter Basics by half a length at Leopardstown last month.

Lancastrian Pride is progressive but probably not progressive enough yet and in the circumstances the hardened professional attitude of Liver Bird looks the safest thing to rely on.

Arthur Moore and Francis Woods will also be fancied to pick up the Aer Rianta Duty Free Handicap Chase with the Cheltenham flop Manhattan Castle but on this fast surface Manhattan Castle may be worth opposing.

Cheltenham has never been a happy hunting ground for Manhattan Castle and in the circumstances, the fact he was pulled up in the Cathcart is best ignored. His defeat of Arctic Weather at Leopardstown in January is more his form but that was on soft ground and the Fairyhouse ground is anything but soft.

In contrast, one of The Outback Way's four victories last year was on good to firm going at Thurles in October and although he hasn't run since being pulled up in the Thyestes Chase, at his best The Outback Way is the sort of pace-forcing horse that can dominate the race.

The final of the Tattersalls Mares Series is an intensely competitive looking event but it also provides Valentine Gale with the chance to stop a frustrating run of second placings.

The last of them was behind stable companion Lancastrian Pride at Wexford where she looked to be going better than the favourite on the turn in. Boro Bow looks a danger at her best but Valentine Gale can put a valuable success next to her name.

The biggest field of the day go in the opening maiden hurdle but the winner should come from the trio of Cavalier D'Or, Silvian Bliss and Iridal. Preference is for Iridal who is capable of much better than he showed behind Private peace at Punchestown in February.

Twin Gale beat Lost Alphabet at Naas on her debut and can follow up in the champion bumper, while Folly Road is worth a chance in the handicap chase.

Trainer Les Eyre was singing the praises of Celestial Choir after watching the versatile mare produce another dazzling performance at Wetherby yesterday. A resounding six-length triumph in the Lamb son Handicap Hurdle earned Celestial Choir, now the winner of 10 Flat races and three over timber, a trip to Ayr later this month for the Scottish Grand National meeting. Although her intended target is currently the two miles six furlongs handicap, Eyre is also giving serious consideration to a crack at the Scottish Champion Hurdle.

The Jockey Club is unlikely to investigate the Plumpton race which saw the controversial defeat of hot favourite Lively Knight.

Lively Knight, trained by Josh Gifford and ridden by the stable's conditional jockey Leighton Aspell, was sent off 1 to 7 to beat two rivals in the Seeboard Novices' Chase on Saturday.

However the horse could finish only second to Stormhill Pilgrim, who was ridden by Gifford's stable jockey Philip Hide.