All the usual trainers are represented, but in previous seasons Aidan O'Brien's runners have always improved from their first outing of the new campaign. John Oxx's horses, meanwhile, tend to be slow to come to hand, although they were winning races at a surprisingly early stage of the season a couple of years ago, so the best advice is to take a cautious approach for the first few meetings.

The puzzle becomes a little easier to solve when it comes to the feature event, the ladbrokes. ie Irish Lincoln. A number of the runners here, notably top-weight Tolpuddle, Bobs Pride and recent Sandown scorer Victram, are fit from their exertions over hurdles, and can be expected to hold the edge on fitness.

The Tommy Stack-trained Tolpuddle, in particular, will relish the conditions, and a good show can be expected.

Last year's winner Victram was a leading fancy for the Pierse Hurdle at Leopardstown, but his biggest pay day came at Sandown two weeks ago.

No horse has landed consecutive runnings of the Irish Lincoln since the 1950's, so history is against Victram, but the Curragh has been a lucky course in the past for his trainer Ado McGuinness, so a good run can be expected.

Others to be considered are the Philip Rothwelltrained Arturius, who ran well for a long way at Lingfield recently, and Our Jaffa.

Aidan O'Brien has just the two runners . . . Amadeus Mozart and Chenchikova . . .

but both have good chances.