Lidanna looks the one to side with

Heeremandi, who achieved a rating of 107 during an admirably consistent two-year career, makes her seasonal reappearance in this evening's Listed Topaz Spring Stakes at Tipperary.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained filly ran six times last year, winning her first two and then running some fine races in defeat which included a third to Charge D'Affairs and Xaar in the Prix Morny, a fourth to Tarascon in the Moyglare and a fifth to Embassy in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Nemarket.

That indicated that Heeremandi was just below the very top class last season and that in Group Three and Listed class she should be a formidable opponent. However, she hasn't grown much, if at all, through the winter and looks worth opposing on the grounds that O'Brien's horses have tended to need their first run so far this term.

Last year's Topaz winner Carhue Lass is in again and so is Declan Gillespie's Poker-B who has some decent form on decent ground. The one to side with though looks to be Lidanna who should prefer better ground too but who at her best looks well up to winning this.

Admittedly, that best was two years ago when Michael Kinane's mount won this race and then won the Group Three Greenlands Stakes at the Curragh very impressively. Since then it has not been so rosy for the mare. She wound up 1996 with an eighth in the Kings Stand Stakes and ran only once last year.

Clearly Lidanna has had her problems but she didn't run badly at all under 10st behind Shanko at the Curragh last month and with Heeremandi looking opposable, Lidanna can win this race for the second time.

Aidan O'Brien and Christy Roche can have better luck elsewhere on the card. The duo combine with the Tirol newcomer African Skimmer in the opener and he is the selection considering those with form don't look particularly frightening.

Roche will don his trainer's cap in the bumper where he saddles the Listowel winner Bay Magic.

The other bumper is the Gowla Champion Mares Final and champion amateur Ruby Walsh looks a significant booking for the Jimmy Mangan-trained Kanturk Girl while Joseph Murphy and Jamie Spencer are preferred in the Junction Handicap with Shampooed.

Jason Titley teams up again with John Brassil in the handicap hurdle and their representative Tarry's Flame has his chance and in the nine furlong handicap What A Scene can win for Seamus Heffernan.