The indications from Co Kilkenny are Gowran is likely to survive a noon inspection today and that will be good news for jockey Barry Cash, who will be sure to arrive at the track in plenty of time.
That's because he looks to hold excellent chances in both divisions of the maiden hurdle which make up the first two races.
With Conor O'Dwyer on Native Upmanship duty at Leopardstown, Cash takes the mount on Margoulin in the first and there should be significant improvement in this horse from a fourth to Bust Out at Fairyhouse.
Cash's chance in the second leg looks even more clear as Del Trotter arrives on the back of Clonmel bumper success and a form boost from the St Stephen's Day Leopardstown winner Silver Steel. Trainer Michael Cullen is also in good form and this appears the weaker of the two divisions.
Cash also looks to hold an obvious chance on the Arthur Moore-trained Lord Of The Dance in the two-mile handicap chase but the Thurles bumper winner Fonthil gets a lot of weight and is preferred.
It's not often a handicap hurdle cuts up to just five runners but that's what has happened with the Thomastown Handicap where Sharpaten is down to give away lumps of weight.
The Gowran ground can often make weight tell even more and preference is for Monty's Fancy, who will at least come here race hard having finished fifth to the shock 20/1 winner Secret Native at Leopardstown.
The bet of the day for many, however, will be in the last. Takagi attracted the stewards on to his amateur rider when finishing an eye-catching third to Leaders Way in a Fairyhouse hurdle last time out.
Today, Philip Fenton is the man in the plate and although the Thurles runner up Knights of Kerry will be at least one of the rest who will be looked at seriously, Takagi is the selection.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Leopardstown (RTE 1), Gowran.
Monday: Fairyhouse, Tramore, Cheltenham (Ch4), Catterick, Exeter, Leicester, Plumpton, Southwell.
Tuesday: Ayr, Folkestone, Wolverhampton.
Wednesday: Musselburgh, Lingfield.
Thursday: Thurles, Sedgefield, Taunton, Wolverhampton.
Friday: Ludlow, Towcester, Southwell.
Saturday: Cork, Haydock (BBC), Sandown (Ch4), Uttoxeter, Huntingdon, Lingfield.
Sunday: Naas.
