The rider must have a good chance of collecting aboard Tony Martin's recent winner Royal County Star in the Kilcullen Handicap Hurdle, with In The High Grass and Mouftari shaping up as the real dangers. Royal County Star's stable companion Wine Fountain, with Davy Russell in the saddle, may initiate a double for Martin in the opening Lakelands Maiden Hurdle at the expense of the John Kielytrained Swiss Hall and Cavallo Classico.

Kiely, meanwhile, will be hoping to get his turn through Drummer First in the Sheila McCarthy Novice Hurdle, but this one, along with Glenfinn Captain, is likely to have to settle for the minor placings behind Jimmy Mangan's former pointer Conna Castle.

Judging by the way he won at Punchestown last week he will take all the beating, and the runner-up Cosmo King gave the form of that race a boost by winning at Thurles on Thursday. Glenfinn Captain, from the Tom Taaffe stable, unseated his rider at Leopardstown on his latest, but he had previously looked a smart prospect for the future when landing his first two outings over hurdles. The seven-year-old should go some way towards redeeming that reputation here.

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Handicap Chase Final was originally scheduled to take place at Navan yesterday, but was re-routed to Naas when the chase course at Navan was deemed to be unfit for racing. Trainer Arthur Moore is doublyrepresented in this three miler by both the top-weight Theatre Lane, who is still a maiden over fences, and Gowran Park scorer Well Tutored.

Carrigeen Kalmia, an improving performer, who was only narrowly beaten by Court Leader at Thurles last time, and Giolla An Bhaird, are others to be considered, but the vote goes instead to the Noel Meade-trained Seisiun Eile.

The lightly-weighted selection was successful in a pointto-point last year, and is a half-brother to useful chaser No Half Sessions. He was well supported in the market when landing a novice handicap chase at Clonmel a week ago in the capable hands of Niall Madden, and the duo are taken to follow up here.

Arthur Moore should gain some measure of consolation through Mansony, a winner over this course in November, in the Kilcock Novice Chase.

RACE DIARY Today NAAS (2.10), Market Rasen, Warwick Tomorrow Plumpton, Stratford, Taunton Tuesday Cheltenham, Sedge"eld, Southwell (AW) Wednesday Cheltenham, Huntingdon, Wolverhampton (AW) Thursday Cheltenham, Hexham, Southwell (AW) Friday DOWN ROYAL (2.00), WEXFORD (1.50), Cheltenham, Fakenham, Ling"eld (AW) Saturday GOWRAN (2.55), Ling"eld (AW), Newcastle, Uttoxeter, Wetherby