Before the Christmas feast comes the weekend bread and butter, with Navan hopefully kicking things off on a good note for Barry Geraghty.
The former champion jockey is 25 behind Paul Carberry in the current table but has a number of significant bookings at his local track, including Beausheram in the beginners' chase.
Geraghty has connections with a number of other horses in the race but it's no surprise to see him on Beausheram, who only gave best to Give Over on his last start at Fairyhouse.
Another significant booking is Geraghty on the course and distance winner, Shvera, in the handicap hurdle. Admittedly that course and distance success came at this fixture two years ago but Shvera could be worth sticking with again.
Jim Gorman's mare clearly likes Navan having also ran a fine second to the classy Mantles Prince on the flat here some time ago.
She comes here on the back of a run behind Joe Cullen at Punchestown and only three races on the flat in the autumn. The Gorman horses were hit by illness for most of the year, however, and Shvera, on her favourite track and off an 81 mark, can go close .
Paul Carberry returns to action following his leg injury picked up at Cork last weekend and will be a popular fancy aboard the Galway bumper winner, Raven Rock, in the maiden hurdle.
Perkys Pride has the edge on this one in terms of jumping experience and it will be interesting to see how Charlie's Swan's mount does in the light of a third to the Cheltenham hope, Ballyhampshire Boy, last time.
Carberry and Geraghty travel to Thurles tomorrow which has an interesting Horse And Jockey Hurdle, where Pat Hughes runs both Mumaris and Thesues.
Rathgar Beau is the Carberry mount, however, and he too could provide a boost to the Ballyhampshire Boy form, having finished runner-up to the smart youngster on his last start.
Sully Shuffles was a well backed runner-up to Mine Rock Native at Fairyhouse and could be the one to be on in the handicap hurdle, while Hennessy Feeds bids to repeat a Molony Cup success of last year.
The McManus-owned Poc Fada ran fifth to Holy Orders in a decent race at Gowran last February and will the focus for many in the maiden hurdle.
Bennie's Pride went down by the minimum margin to Captain Moonlight and looks set to go one better tomorrow.
Willie Mullins saddles the only Irish-trained challenger, Adamant Approach (Ruby Walsh), for the Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle at Ascot this afternoon
