Three of the new generation of flat jockeys can dominate the opening stages of this evening's fixture at Clonmel.
Eddie Ahern, Jamie Spencer and Shane Kelly have made big impressions in recent years and each of the three looks set for a winner.
With the recent weather, conditions are certain to be testing and that will suit Kelly's mount, No Avail, down to a tee in the two-mile handicap.
The Paddy Mullins-trained mare thrives in the soft and that could be the deciding factor against the Cork fourth, Cincuenta, and the Cork winner, Crystal Springs, who No Avail is now 4lb better off for being beaten less than two lengths at the start of the month.
Ahern can get punters off to a flyer in the 10-furlong handicap with Experimental; and although the two-mile maiden is an average race in the extreme, maybe Spencer's mount Hennessy Feeds can make the fitness gained by an extensive hurdling campaign pay off.
Over the jumps, no rider has come close to Charlie Swan's level of success at Clonmel over the last decade. Since 1988, the ninetimes champion jockey has had 71 winners here and number 72 could come with Keevers in the conditions hurdle.
Placed twice here in maiden hurdles this season, John Kiely's horse returned to the track last month to get off the mark in a bumper. Keevers may be one of the least experienced horses in the race but does look one with improvement in him.
In the bumper, it would be unwise to dismiss the chance of Jessica Harrington's Runaway Bishop, but preference is for the consistent Paircin, runner-up to Boley Lad at Navan.
Shay Barry has an unenviable task in getting Vain Minstrel around in the handicap chase, but even an adequate round would give Gerry Cully's horse a good chance against Scoss; while Execu- tive Flyer is a speculative choice in the handicap hurdle.
Aidan O'Brien has left in Lavery from his four initial declarations for Sunday's Poule d'Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas), although the colt is considered a doubtful runner unless the ground dries out.
