THERE is a mouth-watering race in prospect in the Grade 2 Friends Of Navan Fortria Chase at Navan today which has attracted a small but select field of four runners. Colm Murphy's Queen Mother Champion Chase winner Big Zeb takes on Golden Silver, hero of the Punchestown Festival equivalent and the duo do battle with last season's Hennessy Gold Cup winner Joncol and Carthalwan who is having his first run for Gordon Elliott.

All four horses will be having their first outing of the season so their fitness has to be taken at face value. The Paul Nolan-trained Joncol is a giant of a horse who will relish the underfoot conditions, but he is sure to be in need of the run. Having said that his stable has begun to run into form but the trip will be very much on the short side for him.

The Willie Mullins-trained Golden Silver is another horse who handles soft ground and he will be well-suited by this minimum distance, as will Cheltenham scorer Big Zeb. The latter made a number of costly errors last season but finally ironed out his jumping.

Carthalawn is a smart horse in his own right who should not be under-estimated but he looks up against it here. Take a chance instead with Golden Silver.

The Noel Meade-trained Aitmatov is bidding to register back-to-back victories in the Grade 2 Lismullen Hurdle and the nine-year-old is expected to be given most to do by Jumbo Rio .

Meanwhile in the Grade 3 'For Auction' Novice Hurdle it is difficult to oppose Hidden Cyclone who is unbeaten to date.

Racing also takes place at Limerick where Taking Stock can complete a hat-trick in the Glenview Stud Novices Chase.