The Monroe's Live Rated Novice Chase is the feature event on a seven-race jumps card at Ballinrobe on Friday and there doesn't appear to be a great deal separating the five runners.
Archie Meade cut little ice in Listed company at Wexford when last sighted back in October but was an impressive winner on his penultimate start and is clearly a smart performer on his day.
Festive Day is turned out swiftly following an impressive success at Fairyhouse ten days ago and warrants the utmost respect while evidently heading the right way, and Vent De La Cote shaped with real promise at Naas last time.
Ice Cool looked good when registering a clear-cut success at Wexford last week and shouldn't have any problems coming back in trip for the Killeen Sports Grounds Rated Novice Hurdle, while Get Out Of Jail arrives fit from a recent spin on the Flat and is still open to considerable progress.
Racing gets under way at 4.55pm with the Connacht Telegraph Mares Maiden Hurdle and Let Her Cry could prove a tough nut to crack having shaped with plenty of promise over hurdles so far, placing at both Tramore and Limerick in three hurdles starts.
Blessed King has some strong form in the book and ran another perfectly respectable race when finishing third at Gowran Park.
He must go close for Gordon Elliott in the Costello And McDermott Maiden Hurdle but won't find things easy taking on promising Fairyhouse runner-up Bringerofthedawn.
Elliott has another leading chance in the P And D Lydon Handicap Chase as Le Grand Chene bids to continue his strong recent run of form, while the Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning handler takes the wraps off exciting point-to-point scorer Carrig Cathal in the concluding At The Races Flat Race.
He seems sure to go well though Noel Meade saddles a similarly interesting newcomer, Leopards Leap, in the same race.
