The two-day highlight of Down Royal's year begins on Friday and Monksland returns to action in the feature WKD Hurdle.
Noel Meade's five-year-old landed the Slaney Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles before finishing third in the Neptune at Cheltenham, and if this two-mile trip is too sharp for him, the chief beneficiary could be Miley Shah, who trounced Trifolium in a Punchestown Grade Three and has fitness on his side.
Shadow Eile has been kept busy since the height of summer and shouldn't be discounted, nor should Fred Winter runner-up Edeymi.
Missunited was no match for Voleuse De Coeurs in the Irish Cesarewitch but she improved markedly on the level and will be a tough nut to crack as she reverts to jumping for the Grade Three EBF Lough Construction Ltd. Mares Novice Hurdle.
Everything Zain gained a deserved success at Thurles last week and bids for revenge on his Killarney conqueror Hurricane Ridge in the opening Eventsec 3-Y-O Hurdle at 1.05.
The latter has ground to make up on Stocktons Wing from his subsequent outing at Listowel, though, and Charles O'Brien's juvenile could be the one to beat.
Bonisland made an immediate return on the & pound;125,000 shelled out for him when he won a Roscommon bumper on his debut for Gordon Elliott, and he now tackles obstacles in the Allianz Maiden Hurdle.
Elliott starts his Cheltenham Festival runner-up Toner D'Oudairies over fences in the Porter & Co. Beginners Chase, but he must concede experience to Johannisberger and Grade One winner Benefficient.
The latter's stablemate Pires strives to supplement his recent Cork success when he goes to post for the Robinson Services Handicap Chase, while Hilltop Tommy, Mister Nibbles and Tabac Brun - all first-time winners under Rules - lock horns in the Archie Watson Memorial INH Flat Race.
