THERE MIGHT be a total of six black type races in Ireland tomorrow but even having a meagre two opponents in Navan's Grade One feature won't stop Pandorama hogging the limelight.

Noel Meade's unbeaten star jumped straight into the 'Cheltenham banker' category for many after his 26 length rout of Alpha Ridge last month and returns to the same course and distance for the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Hurdle.

Just two line up against Pandorama and it is another course winner, Mikael d'Haguenet, who will be expected to provide the Ballymore Properties Novice Hurdle ante-post favourite with his biggest test.

Willie Mullins's French import showed a smart turn of foot on his Irish debut but faces a major task against Pandorama despite a 4lb concession.

"It is going to be testing ground but he has showed he can handle those conditions," Meade said yesterday.

"We have no worries on that score and he seems in good form."

Meade can also be expected to pick up the Grade Two Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle with his former Grade One winner Aitmatov who is rated to win this with something in hand.

Aitmatov can be a difficult horse to get fit but bridged over 20 lengths between himself and Catch Me from his first run of the season to the Hatton's Grace Hurdle.

Further improvement can be expected from a horse who officially has 17lb in hand of the up-and-comer Shakervilz.

"He ran really well in the Hatton's Grace and was getting to them all the time in the straight. I think he is a fitter horse now and seems in very good form," Meade added.

The concluding Grade Two bumper invariably throws up a smart winner and this year's renewal looks typically competitive. Jessica Harrington's bumper horses have been in very good form recently though and Roberto Goldback impressed with a five length defeat of Taipers on his Fairyhouse debut.

Cork's feature is the €60,000 O'Connell Logistics Hilly Way Chase and the drop back to two miles could work the oracle for Scotsirish who found the rise to three miles on his last start too much to cope with.

Ruby Walsh is due to ride at the Mallow track tomorrow and two miles in testing conditions could be better suited to last season's smart novice. An 8lb weight concession from Schindlers Hunt will be no hindrance either.

Charles Byrnes believes Cailin Alainn can bounce back to form as the nine-year-old was a prolific winner in 2006, scoring six times in succession including twice in Grade One company. Following two crashing falls at Cheltenham, she has never quite been able to return to her best but Byrnes believes it would be dangerous to write her off just yet.

Walsh will also fancy his chances in the Grade Three novice hurdle aboard another smart chaser in Pomme Tiepy. The ex-French mare was a revelation over the smaller obstacles at Fairyhouse and can follow up.

Another Ambition is a stone higher in the ratings for the two mile handicap hurdle after winning at Gowran on his last start and is worth examining after that easy victory.

FAIRYHOUSE holds a 7.30 inspection this morning to see if racing can go ahead this afternoon but it is tomorrow's Grade One card at Navan that could be under more threat, writes Brian O'Connor.

Frost is the problem for Fairyhouse but the course manager Caroline Grey reported yesterday evening:

"It's forecast to get down to zero or just below and if that is

correct we would be very hopeful."

Concerns at Navan also revolve around frost but with temperatures expected to possibly reach as low as minus five tonight an inspection

could have to be called for tomorrow morning.

"We were forecast minus five last weekend too and it got nowhere near that so we will have to see," said the Navan manager Darren Lawlor.

In contrast rain was the issue at Cork last night after what was described as a "nasty day" in Mallow.

"We are told by the Met people that it should stop at about

8.00 tonight so if that is

correct we would be hopeful," said the manager Michael O'Neill yesterday.

"The only problem would be if we got into flood trouble and that would require an awful lot more rain than we are being told we will get."