Monbeg Notorious© Photo Healy Racing
Gigginstown House Stud pitch two of their most promising youngsters against each other in Sunday's Kerry Group Stayers Novice Hurdle at Cork.
The Gordon Elliott-trained Monbeg Notorious and Noel Meade's Rathnure Rebel are both last-time-out winners who promise to be even better over three miles.
Monbeg Notorious was made to work hard by Moulin A Vent at Down Royal but the second, trained by Meade, has come out and won well since.
Rathnure Rebel has not had a straightforward career to date but he hacked up in a maiden hurdle last time and faces a steep rise in class.
"He won well the last day. He stays well and we're looking forward to him going three miles. He's in good form," said Meade.
Willie Mullins fields the mare Screaming Rose who, on her second to Cheltenham winner Peregrine Run, would appear to have a good chance.
His brother Tom Mullins runs Catcheragain while Elliott's second string is Lilywhite Gesture Inch Rise aims to pick up where he left off in the Low Low Handicap Hurdle.
The seven-year-old ran some excellent races in defeat last season, bumping into the likes of Min and Road To Respect along the way.
Liam Burke's charge was certainly not winning out of turn when bolting up at this venue in March and it will be interesting to see how he fares on his handicap debut and seasonal reappearance, dropping a full mile in distance.
Inch Rise's opponents in a competitive contest include Copy Print who has won two of his last three starts for John Walsh, and Elliott's recent Limerick scorer Orchard Road
The opening Galtee 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle is arguably even more open with a field of 22 going to post. Alcander was not too far behind Landofhopeandglory when third at Fairyhouse last time and that form probably sets the standard. Ineffable and Niven have both shown ability over jumps, while Dinaria Des Obeaux and Landsman are interesting newcomers to the discipline.
The Willie Mullins-trained Kolumbus is sure to be well fancied in the Charleville Cheese Maiden Hurdle.
The Kilbeggan bumper winner may be given most to think about by Meade's Black Ace who also won a bumper at Kilbeggan and has finished second on his last three appearances, and Elliott's Thurles bumper scorer Woods Well Broughtons Star and Varene De Vauzelle could be the two to concentrate on in the concluding Kerrymaid Novice Handicap Hurdle.
