The JP McManus colours always attract attention but it should pay to keep an even closer eye than usual on them today as Creon is a visitor to Thurles from Jonjo O'Neill's yard in Britain, writes Brian O'Connor.
A Ballinrobe maiden winner when trained here, Creon has subsequently won handicap hurdles at Kempton and Wetherby and ran last February off a mark of 122. However, he gets into today's novice handicap chase off an old Irish rating and looks to hold a first-rate book chance.
The McManus colours should also be prominent in the mile and a half maiden on the flat. Goss has his first run for Michael O'Brien since leaving Pascal Bary's yard in France and could be a blot on this race.
Last season's highly rated novice Risk Accessor goes over fences in the beginners' chase but may not like the ground to get worse than the official forecast of "yielding". Sigma Dotcomm should be okay on testing conditions and has already won over fences.
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