Cliffside Park winning at Clonmel last year© Photo Healy Racing
Late arrival is not advisable at Powerstown Park this afternoon as Clonmel's card begins with a bang at 1.30 with the running of the Munster Hurdle.
The hope would be that we will learn plenty from the staging of this extended two-mile-three-furlong contest, as a few unexposed types bid to build on what they've shown to date.
Of course the duo of runners among the seven participants, that already hold ratings, set a decent standard. Course winner Cliffside Park and Victory Mill are both in possession of an identical 128 official assessment.
In the case of Urano and Aurora Bell both eight-year-olds, it is back to calmer waters after their latest outings.
The Ruby Walsh-ridden Urano finished seventh in the Thyestes Chase last month, while Aurora Bell did better when coming home in fourth place in the Troytown Chase in November. The latter now has his first outing over hurdles. Dont Tell No One and Nine Stitches may be the same age as the last mentioned pair, but they are of the less experienced variety. There is no disguising their level of ability, though.
Nine Stitches is now in against a different class of animal, but it was very difficult not be taken with the manner of his 27-length success at Thurles towards the end of January.
John Joe Walsh's charge had been threatening to produce a performance like that for a while, and further progression could see him account for a field which includes another noteworthy type in Paul Nolan's Rooster Byron
Andrew McNamara partnered winners for some of the trainers involved in the opener, and the former jockey is now set to send out his first runner as a trainer as Stay With It contests the Kilsheelan Beginners Chase.
That former Mick Winters inmate will have Jonathan Moore in the saddle, as he bids to add to a hurdles win achieved at the track, on his chase debut.
