Vastonea (right) winning last year© Photo Healy Racing
Vastonea attempts to win the Topaz Mile, the feature race on day two at Galway, for a third time today.
Kevin Prendergast's seven-year-old, successful 12 months ago and in 2012, is joined in the field by 2013 Topaz Mile scorer Brendan Bracken, who tops the weights for Ger Lyons.
Brendan Brackan is one of five in the race for Lyons, though Prendergast is more wary of stablemate Unsinkable.
"Vastonea is in good shape, though he's a little higher in the weights this year," said the handler.
"The ground seems the same as last year, it will have a decent dig in it but he wouldn't want it very soft.
"He's heading there in the same form as last year, he doesn't seem to be deteriorating anyway.
"Ger seems determined to win it again but I'd say Unsinkable was the best of his.
"Since he came over from England he's really improved."
As well as Brendan Brackan and Unsinkable, Lyons runs Chopin, Lat Hawill and Third Dimension.
Last year's respective third and fifth, Brian Ellison's Baraweez and the George Baker-trained Jack's Revenge, are both back again from England.
Donnacha O'Brien rides Baraweez, with elder brother Joseph on Jack's Revenge.
Paul Deegan runs Irish Lincolnshire runner-up Aussie Valentine, who suffered an injury in his last race in April, while Galway king Dermot Weld, who last won this in 2011 with Stunning View, saddles Stay De Night.
