AFTER the rarified heights of Derby day, it's back to more mundane matters at Limerick this afternoon. However, in terms of complexity, this seven-race card loses little in comparison, although West Side Story could be one to get into in the one-mile Aughinish Island Maiden.

The most important formline for this race came at Gowran Park eight days ago in the nine-furlong maiden won by Puzzled Airs. West Side Story, having his first run of the year, managed to finish fourth, three lengths behind the newcomer, Eastern Project, who re-opposes today and is likely to start favourite.

The bare reading of that form gives West Side Story little chance, but John Muldoon's colt looked to be given quite a bit to do, having been towards the rear of the field well after half way.

Eastern Project's good effort, judged on the betting market, looked to be something of a surprise and, on firmer ground today, West Side Story, ridden closer to the pace, looks to represent some value.

Eastern Project's trainer, Jim Bolger, has his horses in sparkling form and he can notch up yet another winner with the consistent Sublime Beauty in the Bellevue Race.

It's quite a step down in class from Ascot's Ribblesdale Stakes, where Sublime Beauty ran fifth to Yashmak, to here, but the selection has had a problem getting her head in front. Some of her placed form is excellent, however, and it includes dividing Dr Johnson and Token Gesture in a listed race at the Curragh. On that running, she will rarely get a better winning opportunity than this.

Bicycle Thief makes his hurdling debut in the opening Green park Maiden Hurdle and provided Christy Roche's horse jumps adequately, this Curragh winner, rated 77 on the Flat, will be difficult to beat. Harry de Bromhead's Phareign could be his main danger.

The form of Alshou's seasonal bow at Ballinrobe last month has worked out well and she should go close in the Limerick Handicap, while local trainer Michael Hourigan provides Honey Trader, an easy maiden hurdle winner at Ballinrobe, in the McManus Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle and he is marginally preferred to the other Limerick horse, Legitman.

Legal Storm, a beaten hot favourite at Roscommon last time, looks a decent bet in the concluding getting-out stakes.

Paddy Mullins's Noble Thyne (Tom Treacy) was a well beaten ninth of the 10 finishers in the French Champion Hurdle won by Bog Frog at muddy Auteuil on Saturday.