The Grade 3 contest, one of three graded events on the card, is run over a distance of three miles, a trip connections have always felt would suit the versatile gelding. The seven-year-old is equally effective on the flat and over hurdles, and it is significant that flat jockey Johnny Murtagh flies over from Dubai to renew the partnership.

Murtagh gets on particularly well with Halford's charge who appears to face an easy task here with the benefit of two excellent runs over timber in recent months under his belt.

Florida Coast and Holy Orders represent the two obvious dangers and the latter, an enigmatic if talented performer from the Willie Mullins stable, has a particular liking for this venue.

Florida Coast is another who always runs well over this course and distance and he caught the eye with his second placing behind stablecompanion Solerina at Naas last month. Both horses are capable of causing an upset, but Golden Cross is a confident choice to oblige.

Church Island is the toprated horse in the eight runner field for the ladbrokes. com Ten Up Novice Chase, but his jumping cannot always be relied upon.

Nevertheless, he turned in a good effort last time when runner-up to Southern Vic at Naas and Andrew McNamara, who rode the gelding on that occasion, takes the mount again.

Others to be considered are Noel Meade's recent Thurles scorer Augherskea, the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Homer Wells and Mr Babbage, and the Thyestes Chase runner-up, Coljon. The latter is likely to be the one to give Church Island most to do, but take a chance that Michael Hourigan's seven-year-old will prevail instead.

Mansony, from the Arthur Moore stable, has failed to capitalise on the promise he showed on his chasing debut at Naas, but has been unlucky to come up against the likes of Missed That and Justified in recent outings.

He should appreciate the drop in class in the ladbrokes. com Flyingbolt Novices Chase, and gets the vote to see off the challenge of Tony McCoy's mount Monjoyau. Zum See and Court Leader are others, who will be expected to put up a bold show.