Diamond King attempts to put his unfortunate Cheltenham experience behind him when he lines up for the Pierce Molony Memorial Novice Chase at Thurles this afternoon.
Gordon Elliott's 146-rated charge went to the Festival as a leading contender for the Mildmay of Flete Chase but made a hash of the sixth fence and then was hampered by a faller, which effectively ended his race and he was pulled up by Davy Russell.
He drops back in distance for this Listed two-and-a-quarter-mile affair and takes on the Willie Mullins-trained Great Field, who has been very impressive in winning his two starts over fences so far at Leopardstown and Gowran.
Rated 147 over hurdles, he looks the one that Diamond King will have to fear most.
Great Field's stable companion Open Eagle returns from the sidelines in the three-mile Borrisoleigh Hurdle.
The eight-year-old hasn't been seen out since finishing in mid-division in last year's Albert Bartlett, and has to concede weight to all of his six opponents here.
His well-being has to be taken on trust and this is not an easy assignment against the likes off 139-rated Sadler’s Risk, absent since taking fourth behind Valseur Lido in the Grade One at Down Royal in November, and Midnight Escape.
Open Eagle will hardly manage the 10lb concession to Sadler’s Risk and Midnight Escape could be a bigger threat to the Henry de Bromhead candidate.
Elliott’s Victory Mill is another returning from an absence, making his first appearance since this meeting last year, when making his racecourse fencing debut in the Devil's Bit Beginners' Chase.
He’s hard enough to fancy here against rivals like Art Of Payroll and Dicosimo.
Both have chasing experience to call upon, although the latter hit the deck most recently in a bad four-runner contest at Gowran.
In the opening Martinstown Opportunity Maiden Hurdle I’d expect to see Giant Spirit justify a short price.
His runner-up placings behind the likes of Let's Dance and Bon Papa undoubtedly set the standard here.
Golden Poet will struggle to concede the 8lb and Tikken Away and La Bella Vida both have something to find.
Tulpar has been in excellent form this year, but has another 5lb rise to contend with in the Jimmy Neville Memorial Handicap Chase.
He won off 93 at Punchestown in Januay and two placed efforts subsequently, at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, have seen him move upwards to 110. But his chance is there from that 17lb higher mark.
Motown Bob and Zekarya are his two most obvious dangers.
Robbie McNamara's Dasmyhoss was third behind Debuchet on his Leopardstown January introduction and tries to build on that in the four-year-old bumper here.
Spin A Yarn, Nevsky and Vladakar could be the threats.
Neville Ring
2.10 Giant Spirit
2.45 Sadler’s Risk (Dbl)
3.20 Queeny
3.55 Diamond King (Nap)
4.30 Art Of Payroll
5.05 Tulpar
5.40 Dasmyhoss
Next Best
2.10 Golden Poet
2.45 Midnight Escape
3.20 Mount Masada
3.55 Great Field
4.30 Dicosimo
5.05 Motown Bob
5.40 Vladakar
