Clonmel has the first of its double stint this week with a £4,400 jackpot carryover, and for many the banker in the last leg will be Fifth Generation in the Merck Sharp and Dohme Handicap Chase.
The Donie Hassett-trained gelding is attempting a quick hat-trick here, but despite having to carry a 6lb penalty for winning at Thurles on Friday, Fifth Generation still looks to have the edge.
He took his race on Friday by the scruff of the neck at halfway and stayed on strongly to beat Another Point by 10 lengths. Before that, Fifth Generation won over today's course and distance when again taking the initiative early and running out 14 lengths clear of Interim Account.
Garrett Cotter is likely to employ similarly enterprising tactics again, and although the novice, Coolree Lord, a distant fourth at Cheltenham last time, looks set to take up the challenge, Fifth Gen- eration should complete his sequence.
With the ground officially forecast as heavy, the runners are really going to have to last home, and it's encouraging that another hat-trick seeker, Bavard Jet, started his successful stretch over half a mile further than he has to travel in the Barne Novice Chase.
He followed that win here with a Graded success in Cork and Enda Bolger's smart young horse should have too many guns for Letterlee here.
The other chase on the card is the mares Beginners race and after running second to Bavard Jet here last month, it's difficult not to look at Black Queen as a likely winner and she will handle the ground.
Over the flights, the Charlie Swan-Aidan O'Brien combination look set for another couple of winners, courtesy of Riposte in the opener and Master Of Milltown in the juvenile maiden.
Riposte made an encouraging reappearance at Fairyhouse last month when third to Thatswhatithought and may have derived enough benefit from that to beat the likely favourite, Cailin Supreme, who has had a number of likely opportunities to break her hurdle duck before now.
Master Of Milltown has also had a number of opportunities but looks worth another chance, judged on his third behind Hamamelis at Navan last time.
