ARTIST IS THE ONE TO WATCH Chavi ready to paint the town red with chase success

He might have most to fear from the lightly raced Mormon while the hat-trick chasing pair of Best Behavior and Castle Oliver command the utmost respect.

The card begins with an interesting Grade 3 chase where none of the six runners could be ruled out.

A marginal vote goes to last year’s winner Cadmium in the hope that the drop back to this trip and the significant drop in class will play to his strengths.

He was outclassed and probably found the trip too far in the Irish Gold Cup last time and this test should be much more to his liking.

Hardline, who was placed at Grade 1 level earlier in the season, is respected although he was well below his best at Thurles last time.

Another worth a mention is Any Second Now who is being geared towards the Grand National. His trainer Ted Walsh has a history of doing well in this race with stayers.

In the Grade 2 novice hurdle Andy Dufresne is put forward to reward the decision of his connections to skip Cheltenham this year.

Gordon Elliott’s charge had to work hard for a Grade 2 success at Punchestown last time but he showed a good attitude.

That win over the promising Captain Guinness and his second to Latest Exhibition at Navan in December earn him the vote over Mt Leinster.

In the maiden hurdle Pure Genius is taken to build on his third at Navan a couple of months ago when he probably paid the price for setting a strong pace.

Perhaps the race of the day is the winner’s bumper which has brought together a number of promising sorts.

Among them is Joseph O’brien’s Fire Attack who was so impressive at Limerick over Christmas.

This son of Westerner might just have the measure of previous winners Farouk D’alene and Stattler.