Despite weekend temperatures plummeting to minus five, there are no inspections planned for either Limerick or Down Royal on St Stephen's Day.

"At the moment I don't think there will be a need to inspect and there appear to be no problems," said the Down Royal manager Mike Todd yesterday, and there was a similar upbeat bulletin from the south.

The new Limerick will be hosting its second fixture and following the bumper 18,000 crowd that showed up for its unveiling in October, measures have been taken to improve access to the track.

"We will be opening for business at 10 in the morning and we have also opened a second entrance from Crecora village," said manager Angus Houston.

"We're hoping for a crowd of up to 13,000. Anything more will be a bonus." The feature race at Limerick is the Greenmount Park Novice Chase and it can confirm the local link among the likely winners.

Risk Accessor is owned by JP McManus and comes to the Grade Three contest on the back of a fine second to Harbour Pilot in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse.

Michael Hourigan trains only a few miles from the track and should pick up the maiden hurdle with Beef Or Salmon.

There could be a substantial raiding party from Donie Hassett's yard in Quin, Co Clare and the stable may be successful with Native Scout in the opener, That's The Story in the handicap hurdle and Roscam in the bumper.

Up north, the local influence on the winners list should also be substantial, with Hour Of Need a likely winner of the first for Jeremy Maxwell and the topweight Brackney Boy sure to be fancied in the opportunity hurdle.

However, one horse it should pay to keep an eye on is Dabarsi in the bumper. This one ran good sixth to Davenport Milenium in a hot bumper at Leopardstown last February and could finish off the day on a good note for punters.