Down Royal preview: Nina Carberry to make foray north pay off

In the hunters' chase, Carberry is reunited with last year's winner On The Fringe, which is one of just two horses that Enda Bolger saddles on the St Stephen's Day schedule along with the Limerick-bound Gilgamboa.

With Gordon Elliott's Oscar Barton and Ian Ferguson's pair James and Walden among the 16-strong line-up, this is another decent renewal of the two-mile-six-furlong Maze contest.

Nevertheless, when you consider that On The Fringe dispensed with the Cheltenham heroes Tammys Hill and Salsify 12 months ago, it is surely a less taxing affair this time.

At Leopardstown and Cheltenham subsequently, the nine-year-old's stamina didn't quite last out, but he then made the most of less arduous assignments at Punchestown and Killarney.

Suited

At this stage, there is little doubt that On The Fringe is best suited by conditions that don't place too much emphasis on staying power, so this race is ideally suited to his needs.

Carberry's other booking is aboard the Gigginstown Stud-owned Delegate in the bumper. This has all the makings of a cracking little contest, with Tony Martin's No Dice possibly the greatest threat to the selection.

Malcolm Denmark's Presenting five-year-old has been third in an Ascot bumper and a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle on its only two starts to date, and he will strip fitter for that reappearance turn a month ago.

Delegate could have plenty to do to beat No Dice, but he is fancied to be up to the job. The Gordon Elliott-trained Robin Des Champs four-year-old was expected to run a big race on his Fairyhouse bow, but he showed signs of greenness when just fourth behind Identity Thief.

While he will need to improve if he is collect here, the suspicion is that he has the scope to do so.

The ubiquitous maroon and white silks might also make their way to the winner's enclosure aboard Colm Murphy's Empire Of Dirt in the opening beginners' chase. Down Ace, Drumlee and The Housekeeper are among others with genuine claims in this open heat, but Empire Of Dirt's overall profile is the most appealing.

A Listed novices' hurdle winner, the son of Westerner has yet to set the world alight over fences, falling once and failing to land a blow in two much better races. Now that he drops in class under Kevin Sexton, he should prove a far more formidable proposition.

The reigning champion conditional rider is also tipped to score aboard Elliott's Mr Lando in the two-mile Martinstown Handicap Hurdle.

You could make a case for plenty of the 15 runners in this, but Mr Lando showed some potential when fifth of 12 on his first start for the prolific Meath handler at Fairyhouse on Saturday. He might be able to step up on that now.

Elliott's Sandusky is another interesting recruit in the maiden hurdle. Twice a winner for Godolphin on the Flat, he possessed a rating of as high as 91 at his peak, so he is clearly no slouch.

Just preferred, though, is Noel Meade's Bronco Bill. Pulled up on its Wexford debut on fast ground in May, the Kalanisi gelding was fifth at Wexford in November. If he has progressed from that, he ought to be thereabouts for Ger Fox.