Racing returns to Ireland for the first time since Sunday with a bumper eight-race card on the Dundalk all-weather.
The action gets under way at 6.00 with the Floodlit Friday Nights Nursery over a mile, in which Victor's Beach and Zainda lock horns again after fighting out the finish to a seven-furlong event here a fortnight ago.
Sherzam and Desiderata weren't far away on that occasion and renew rivalries, while Eusepio is interesting on his handicap debut for David Marnane.
Victor's Beach's stablemate Lily Of Kenmare is sure to be on most shortlists for the Happy Christmas To All Our Patrons Maiden (Division 1), having bettered her promising debut effort by filling the runner-up berth when upped to this mile trip.
The second instalment sees Oh So Lucy attempting to halt her regressive profile, and she isn't guaranteed to confirm last month's superority over Legal Lyric, who was having her first look at a racecourse then.
Dimitar won with plenty up his sleeve last week but has a welter burden to overcome in the www.dundalkstadium.com Handicap, and fellow last-start winners Clare Harrier and Alvar may be better treated.
Elusive Ice came within a whisker of starting his career with a bang and will be fancied to improve in the Dundalk Stadium - Light Up Your Night Maiden, although Rapid Approach and Elleval have the edge in experience, while Regal Concorde is an interesting newcomer from the Dermot Weld yard.
Ocean Drift and Pierre D'Or both hit the crossbar at this venue last week and top the weights for the Crowne Plaza Of Dundalk Handicap, while If Per Chance also arrives at the Crowne Plaza Dundalk Champions Handicap on the back of a second here.
Moveable Asset is beginning to prove costly to follow but is sure to have his supporters again in the concluding Crowne Plaza Jockey & Trainer Awards Handicap.
