Clonmel's seven-race card may not have some of the quality of the fare at Navan but it definitely makes up in quantity. Prudence looks the byword in the circumstances, but maybe Lord Of The Chase can get punters off to the right start in the opening maiden hurdle.

Donald Swan's horse ran into a real tartar at Navan last time when the potentially high-class Kilcalm King absolutely ran away from his oppostion. Nevertheless, Lord Of The Chase was running on well at the finish to be best of that opposition and if there is a Kilcalm King in today's race, he hasn't reared his head yet.

In the other maiden hurdle it's difficult to go against the Gowran bumper winner, Thinkers Corner. He hasn't run since March but if near fitness should win.

Aidan O'Brien had the £500 fine imposed on him by the Tipperary stewards for using the racecourse as a training ground lifted on appeal to the Turf Club yesterday.

Gentle Thoughts, the horse at the centre of the enquiry on October 16th, who finished third in the Deep Gale Maiden, also had her 30-day ban from racing lifted but jockey Seamus Heffernan's appeal against his 14 suspension failed.

Evidence heard by the Appeals and Referrals Committee included that of Gentle Thoughts's part owners John Magnier, Timmy Hyde and Paul Shanahan.