Fresh from his successful weekend both here and in England, Willie Mullins sends a select team to Limerick headed by Bold Banks in the opening Christmas Festival 26-29 December Maiden Hurdle at 12.40.
There was a good word for the Taipan gelding prior to his racecourse debut but he could not justify the support, failing by half a length to catch Knight Realm at Gowran Park.
He has been off for the best part of two years, but the champion trainer is more than adept at readying one after an absence and this one carries the colours of his wife Jackie, with jockey son Patrick making this a real family affair.
Patrick is also on top for Rockyaboya's fencing debut in the Munster Beginners Chase, while Andrew Lynch takes the ride on interesting French import Theleze for the yard in the Munster Mares Maiden Hurdle.
Mullins then gives the leg up to Ruby Walsh on his Friends Of Greenmount Handicap Chase contender Bundle Of Fun, who is yet to strike over the bigger obstacles but remains nicely treated compared to his timber rating.
The Charles Byrnes-trained Fists Of Fury was good enough to place fourth in Grade One company over hurdles and attempts to build on the promise of his first couple of chase starts in the Askeaton Beginners Chase.
He faces a potentially useful opponent in the shape of The Engineer, with Jessie Harrington opting to skip a return to hurdles with her useful bumper performer.
Providing Call Box doesn't make it off the substitutes' bench for the Greenmount Annual Membership Handicap Hurdle (Div 1), last week's Clonmel runner-up Stonehatchetmad brings the best recent form into the race.
There is less to go on in the second instalment, although Fitzgutentyte, beaten as favourite at Downpatrick last month, is comparatively well treated now she reverts from fences.
