It might be labouring under a rather grandiose title but today's £10,500 Jameson Ulster National at Downpatrick is still an attractive enough handicap chase pot and Miss Orchestra is taken to make the journey north very worthwhile for Co Kildare trainer Jessica Harrington.
This mare has been in very good form in her last two races and it's reasonable to believe the streak is far from over. After winning at Naas at the start of last month, Miss Orchestra then looked to have every chance in Fairyhouse's Grand National Trial when slipping and unseating her rider at the last fence.
That left the smart Tell The Nipper in to beat Heist but he could be counted fortunate. It must have been galling for Miss Orchestra's connections to have come so close and yet failed but the seven-year-old is clearly improving and just a repeat of that Fairyhouse effort, bar any last fence dramatics, will make her a very difficult opponent today.
Miss Orchestra's biggest danger could be Eurothatch, a Down Royal winner last time, and who is significantly ridden by Charlie Swan who has ridden the Fergie Sutherland pair Coming On Strong and Pancho's Tango in the past as well as Don't Waste It.
The six-race card is quite trappy but one exception could be the concluding bumper where Noel Meade's Sallie's Girl looks the one to be on.
A promising fourth to Brush The Flag on her debut at Navan, where her better fancied stable companion Kings Banquet finished five lengths behind her, Sallie's Girl wouldn't have to improve much from that if at all to beat nine opponents the best of which looks to be Siochain judged on a runner-up spot to Heart Of Avondale at Down Royal in January.
The Beginners Chase is an interesting enough race with Michael O'Brien's decent hurdler Shaihar likely to be fancied but preference is for David Casey's mount Sharimage.
This horse ran a blinder for a 33 to 1 shot at Navan when running Native Status to three lengths. Ten lengths behind in third was today's opponent Wally Wallensky and the fourth that day, Tommy's Band, won at Fairyhouse on Sunday.
Tony Martin is the leading rider at Downpatrick and can add to his total with the horse he also trains, Montys Delight, in the hunters chase while Carrickdale Boy can win the opening opportunity maiden hurdle for Francis Flood.
Fine De Claire disappointed on her last trip north but is worth a chance in the maiden hurdle judged on a previous fifth to Cliffs Of Dooneen at Naas in January.
Conditional jockey Paul Midgley was hit with a 10-day ban for reckless riding after his actions put a rival jockey on the floor at Catterick yesterday.
In a dramatic conclusion to the bumper race, Midgley's mount Noshinannikin (7-4) veered badly left, squeezing up Mazzelmo against the far rail.
Mazzelmo's rider Seamus Durack clung desperately to his mount for several seconds but agonisingly fell to the ground 10 yards before Mazzelmo got to the line.
In all the chaos, Noshinannikin passed the post first ahead of the riderless Mazzelmo. Petersen House was the next to pass the line, 12 lengths behind Noshinannikin.
Surprisingly some bookmakers had initially offered 5 to 6 about Petersen House being awarded the race even though it had looked a clear-cut case.
After an inquiry lasting 20 minutes the stewards found that Midgley was guilty of reckless riding.
