Those who got their fingers burned with Theatreworld in the Ebor can console themselves that the old boy is back at one of his favourite venues this afternoon and with conditions sure to demand toughness, he looks the most suitable candidate for the Listed Ardilaun Oyster Stakes.

Theatreworld was well fancied for the York showpiece but got himself hopelessly behind in the early stages and in the circumstances did remarkably well to finish eighth.

It was a second unhappy York experience for the three times Champion Hurdle runner after his unseating in the '98 Ebor but at Galway it has been a different story.

Twice a winner over this course and distance, Theatreworld appeared to make things typically difficult for himself here in July but still ran out a winner from Try For Ever in a Premier Handicap.

As a seasoned winter campaigner, he should be better able than most to cope with the likely gluey ground conditions and on the ratings comes out clearly on top of this field.

On those figures, the top weight Golden Rule has it all to do, as does Try For Ever and with the ground riding soft, one of the three-year-olds to keep an eye on is the Tipperary winner Trebizond. However, in these conditions, Theatreworld should not be found wanting.

The Ballydoyle team will probably be more concerned about the ground for their two-year-old Ciro who on decent ground would warrant banker status in the Long Walk Maiden.

The Woodman colt ran a very green second to the useful Broche on his Curragh debut and should have improved significantly from that. However, his breeding and action suggests he would prefer a sounder surface. Nevertheless, he is difficult to logically oppose.