Thurles racegoers are in for a treat on Thursday with a host of classy of performers on show on a fascinating card.
The most exciting of those is the unbeaten Un De Sceaux as he makes his eagerly anticipated debut over fences in the opener at 12.20, the Killinan Beginners Chase.
A magnificent seven from seven over hurdles, Willie Mullins' charge ended last season with an official rating of 161 in that sphere after landing an Auteuil Grade 2 event with a typically bloodless display on his final start in April.
Already a leading fancy for the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival, he will be expected to make a winning start to life over the larger obstacles but this is no penalty kick, with stablemate Blood Cotil, second at Navan recently, and Punchestown runner-up Mr Fiftyone providing smart opposition.
As ever, the Mullins camp appear to have strong chances throughout the card, with highly-tried French Flat performer Max Dynamite making his first appearance on these shores in the Cahir Maiden Hurdle.
He is sure to prove popular but Phil's Magic and Baily Cloud were both second over timber last time and should be winning soon, with similar sentiments applying to dual bumper runner-up Exxaro.
The Rock Of Cashel Hurdle sees the returning Clondaw Court bid to maintain his unbeaten record but chasing remains the long-term plan for this point-to-point winner and he might be worth taking on with Ttebbob, who is match-fit and was a good third behind the smart Plinth recently.
Golantilla has contested the last two runnings of the Cheltenham Champion Bumper, finishing third in the 2013 renewal, and he is another of significant interest now making his first start over jumps in the Holycross Maiden Hurdle.
Kate Appleby Shoes holds all the aces in the finale, the Thurles INH Flat Race, and the Naas runner-up is likely to have too many guns for Starry Knight.
