Gordon Elliott© Photo Healy Racing
Lord Ben steps back up in distance for the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Captain Christy Novice Chase at Clonmel on Thursday.
Henry de Bromhead's eight-year-old was no match for Rebel Fitz at Galway, but had previously struck over timber at Tramore and his previous chase efforts behind The Real Article and Toner D'Oudairies make him the one to beat.
Heaney has taken a while to get his act together in this sphere but justified favouritism at Ballinrobe last month, and Blue Cannon is another contender if he can recapture the form that carried him to success at Down Royal in June.
Aidan O'Brien has his first runner over obstacles in a good few years when Carriganog goes to post for the Laganore Maiden Hurdle.
He didn't set the world alight in a couple of competitive bumpers back in the spring, though, and the Charlie Swan-trained Courage has more to recommend him.
The abandonment of Navan halfway through the card last Saturday thwarted a winning opportunity for Silver Tassie, and Noel Meade gets him out again for the www.clonmelraces.ie Novice Hurdle.
Fiery Oscar ran out a decisive winner of a well-contested event at the Listowel Festival and attempts to capitalise on a significantly lower rating over the bigger obstacles in the Killenaule Handicap Chase.
Dermot Weld and Ruby Walsh team up with Dancers Dilemma in the opening Kilmore Maiden Hurdle at 2.45, and Walsh also gets the leg-up on the Tony Martin-trained Derryarkin, who hasn't done a great deal to get excited about but can be expected to show more as he tries three miles again in the Nire Valley Handicap Hurdle.
Goldboy came agonisingly close to breaking his duck at Cork and Willie Mullins will be hoping he goes one better in the Killahora INH Flat Race, although Intheolddays and Quinville Castle also occupied the runner-up spot last time and make things interesting.
