Stellar Mass, right© Photo Healy Racing
Stellar Mass has been found an excellent opportunity to secure an overdue success in the opening race at Leopardstown today.
Jim Bolger 's Sea The Stars colt ran some excellent races in defeat as a juvenile, most notably finishing a close-up fourth in the Group Two Beresford Stakes at the Curragh in late September.
He has been placed on each of his other four competitive starts and was unfortunate to bump into a smart one when runner-up to Embiran on his seasonal bow at the Curragh three weeks ago.
His rating of 100 sets a fair standard in the Racecourse Of The Year Maiden and he should be hard to beat, unless one of the newcomers is well above-average.
The Ger Lyons-trained Chapter Seven heads an eight-strong field for the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap.
The seven-year-old has been disappointing of late, but has fallen down the weights as a result and perhaps a step up in trip can yield some improvement.
The most likely winner, however, is Alveena The four-year-old was placed on four of her five starts last season, winning once at Galway.
She has not been seen since being narrowly denied in a Curragh handicap in October, but with trainer Dermot Weld's horses in fine form, the absence is not a major concern.
The Leopardstown Family Raceday Handicap is another competitive affair, with top-weight Aimhirgin Lass a major contender if John Oxx has her fit and firing for her seasonal bow.
The consistent Beau Satchel should be fitter for a readying run on the all-weather at Dundalk, while Tribal Path is another to consider having handled testing conditions so well when springing a surprise at Cork last month.
Just five runners go to post for the concluding Leopardstown Summer Membership Handicap and none can be ruled out with confidence.
Paul Deegan 's course and distance winner Aussie Valentine should be approaching peak fitness after finishing second twice already this season, most recently chasing home stable companion Sruthan in the Irish Lincolnshire.
The Mick Halford-trained Shadagann won decisively at the Curragh last autumn and is respected on his comeback, while Tony Martin's Laganore should raise his game after a Curragh pipe-opener. Mandamus and Unyielding also merit respect.
