Pat Hughes has tasted Guinness Galway Hurdle glory already but his big race runner this time, Gemini Guest, could provide a young rider with the biggest moment of his career.
Sam Curling's appetite for the big occasion was whetted by Hedgehunter's National Trial victory back in February but today's highlight will be a very different animal for the talented 5lb claimer.
The accent will be on speed as the 24-strong field whizz around the tight course but in a typically competitive renewal Gemini Guest looks to have enough plus points to hold a decent chance.
No more can be asked for in a race likes this and the Hughes runner will at least have a formidable advantage in experience over the well-touted JP McManus hope Puck Out.
Christy Roche's hope won well enough at Roscommon last time but that was just a fifth ever appearance for Puck Out and this will be the most severe test of his jumping that he has encountered so far.
Last year's winning trainer Paul Nolan tries again with Cloone River while any drying out in the ground will be of considerable significance for Ruby Walsh's mount King's Opera.
The latter finished nine lengths ahead of Gemini Guest in a race at Killarney in May that provides plenty of clues for today's a170,000 pot.
It was Gemini Guest's only defeat in three starts this year and although the horse is 2lb wrong officially, Curling's claim will more than negate that.
Of more significance will be the horse's proven winning form on the track, an ability to go on any ground and a satisfactory preparation. "He is fresh and well which he has to be to show his best. That's why he has had only three races this year," said Hughes who won with the highly weighted Quinze in 1999.
Gemini Guest is at the other end of the handicap but his trainer added: "He was second here last year when my horses weren't right and off the weight he has his chance."
Hughes's record this week makes that quite a statement. Direct Bearing could emerge best of the Weld duo and Monday's GPT fourth Lafayette could go well at a big price. But the each-way value looks to be Gemini Guest.
The smallest field of the day lines up for the novice chase but it looks sure to out punch its weight in the betting stakes with five very decent horses lining up. Bad ground would be against the top-rated Stage Affair and Goss and Loan Man has looked a different horse since returning from a 21-month lay-off.
Loan Man followed up a Cork success with a defeat of Find The King and Le-Monde at Killarney and looks the one on the upgrade.
Lowlander, a winner on the flat here last year, didn't jump particularly well on his hurdling debut at Tipperary and so Patrizio, who is on a four-timer, could be the one to be on in the novice hurdle despite conceding weight.
Tadhg O'Shea rides Conspiring for his boss Michael Halford in the fillies handicap and this one should handle give in the ground better than the Killarney winner Eshaart. O'Shea also looks to have a shout in the mile and a half handicap with Gallileo Strike who makes the trip from Tom Cooper's Co Kerry yard. Banasan makes his chasing debut in the opener and Ruby Walsh's mount is preferred to April Allegro and the smart handicap hurdler Vatirisk.
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