Sizing Granite© Photo Healy Racing
Grade One Aintree Festival scorer Sizing Granite has his first outing since that big success in April when he contests the Brady Family Ham Supporting Kildare GAA Poplar Square Chase at Naas today.
This Grade Three second-season event is viewed as an ideal starting point for the Maghull Novices' Chase winner as he gets to compete against his peers rather than taking on more experienced horses.
Sizing Granite's connections had their anticipation heightened for the campaign ahead with an impressive performance from Sizing John at Punchestown during the week.
Henry de Bromhead, on the mark here 12 months ago with the ill-fated Moscow Mannon, is entitled to fancy the chances of the 154-rated Sizing Granite, who is two from two over this course and distance.
The Milan gelding was also forward enough to take the beginners' chase on his seasonal reappearance on this card a year ago.
Sizing Granite must concede weight to all four of his rivals now, including the Willie Mullins pair of Alelchi Inois and Devils Bride
Those two are obviously due maximum respect, whilst King Of The Picts has made a pleasing start to his chasing career but this is tougher.
The long-standing Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle, with the Tegral Kildare GAA appendage, has attracted a strong 18-horse field befitting its 30,000 euro prize fund. Phil The Flyer shoulders top weight in the two-and-a-half-miler as he bids for a fourth win in succession.
Ray Hackett 's eight-year-old began the sequence at Cork at the end of August when he was off a mark of 102, and he still needs considering here - despite being up to 134.
The 5lb claimer Shane Shortall rides Phil The Flyer, and another talented conditional, Donagh Meyler, could be the man to follow as he is on a mare with a decent record around Naas in Mrs Mac Veale
Others to note throughout the day are Marakoush (1.05), Daisy's Gift and Snow Falcon (2.10) and My Hometown (2.45).
