Pique Sous© Photo Healy Racing
Pique Sous who suffered a life-threatening bout of colic last year, returns to action in the Irish Daily Mail Handicap at the Curragh.
The Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old, who claimed a Grade Two hurdle last April, was last sighted when winning a richly endowed handicap at Leopardstown in September, just days before he fell ill.
Now fully recovered, the grey makes his return in this competitive heat, which also features Aidan O'Brien's Beach Of Falesa at the head of the weights.
Dermot Weld 's Hisabaat failed to sparkle over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival but returns to the level here, while Tony Martin's Thomas Edison is another who is back on the Flat after not showing his best over obstacles.
In a field packed with in-form runners, General Brook Toe The Line Rocky Bleier Sundara Newellen and Mindy are all last-time-out winners.
The in-form Weld fields Jayed Jidan in the Emirates Equestrian Federation Handicap and he will be hoping this smart colt can pick up where he left off last year.
A half-brother to multiple Group One winner Halfway To Heaven, Jayed Jidan won his maiden at Galway last July before signing off with a handicap success at the Curragh the following month.
While he is a runner full of promise, the likes of More Questions Wexford Opera and Great Minds have all tasted victory recently and must be put on the shortlist. Dick Whittington made a favourable impression on his racecourse bow and is sure to be a popular choice in the Elusive Pimpernel EBF (C&G) Maiden.
The son of Rip Van Winkle was beaten just a head by the well-regarded Cappella Sansevero at Naas earlier this month and will be joined by fellow O'Brien inmate Rule The Waves in this six-furlong heat.
Others to note include the well-related Swordfight who is one of two runners for David Wachman along with Dawn Mirage
O'Brien takes the wraps off Annus Mirabilis in the closing Newstalk EBF Maiden, although the unraced half-brother to Derby hero Ruler Of The World and multiple Group One scorer Duke Of Marmalade is not the choice of Joseph O'Brien.
He will be on Table Rock who has finished second in each of his three starts to date, while John Oxx has an interesting contender in Streetcar To Stars, a Sea The Stars half-brother to Midas Touch.
