Osterhase is headline act at Mallow

The jumpers dominate tomorrow's Cork action, but it's an all-flat fixture at Mallow today, where the undoubted headline act is the sprinter Osterhase.

The five furlongs of the Abergwaun Stakes is perfect for the John Mulhern-trained horse, and the race's Listed status might be reassuring to his supporters too.

Graduating out of Stakes class has proved difficult for Osterhase, who picked up a 118 rating from a sterling handicap effort earlier in the season.

But there was no disguising the merit of his last race when he was the only one to take on Var early on in the Prix de l'Abbaye and yet kept on well enough for fourth in the Longchamp Group One.

His most interesting opposition now looks to be the Ballydoyle hope Colossus, who is having a first start since landing the Birdcatcher Nursery on this weekend last year.

Last year the seven-furlong maiden was a successful kick-off for the subsequent Gallinule winner Meath, and this time Aidan O'Brien's hope is Milesius, a full brother to the 2,000 Guineas hero King Of Kings.

The mile maiden has been divided and sees the latest appearance of the enigmatic Pulitser, who came agonisingly close to breaking his duck at Gowran, where Precipitous was a short head off him. In the circumstances it might be best to ignore form and opt for Sign Of Affection, despite a long absence.

Tomorrow's feature is the Listed handicap chase, where City Hall will try to go better than his narrow defeat to Stashedaway at Limerick last Sunday.

The British champion Tony McCoy is on Anxious Moments in this, but he should have better luck earlier on in the JP McManus colours as Fota Island goes in the novice chase and Overbury Affair starts his jumping career in the novice hurdle.

Fota Island improved on his Champion Hurdle sixth at Cheltenham to finish third to Hardy Eustace and Rooster Booster at Punchestown. Any transfer of that sort of form to the bigger obstacles will make him a leading newcomer to chasing this season.

Overbury Affair didn't make it to Cheltenham, but there were good judges who thought he had a good chance there based on his Christmas win at Leopardstown.

Escenica has a 6lb penalty for winning at Tramore on Thursday but should be happier on the softer ground in the handicap hurdle, while Tasman can follow up a Listowel success in the conditions hurdle for Dermot Weld and Ruby Walsh.