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Valiant Force: This is a horse with genuine Group 1 pedigree. While he is returning to the track after a 72-day break, he finds himself in a conditions race where he is significantly clear of his rivals on adjusted ratings. He has handled the Dundalk surface with ease in the past, and, provided he is anywhere near 90% fit, his raw speed should simply be too much for this field.

Laurets D'Estruval is backed by the formidable Mullins??"Townend partnership that has dominated this specific race in recent years. This French-bred gelding is a certified "mud-lark," whose best performances have come on heavy ground, including a very promising Irish debut at Limerick over Christmas where he finished a strong second in a massive field. He holds a significant class edge with a rating of 126, and the fact that he holds entries for multiple Grade 1 races at the Cheltenham Festival tells you exactly what the stable thinks of his engine. Expect him to be much sharper for his first Irish run. He has the physical scope to power through the testing conditions tomorrow and should prove far too good for this maiden field.

Majestic Dane is the standout banker. While he is a newcomer facing an opponent with racecourse experience, he is widely expected to be hard to beat on his debut given his high-class pedigree and significant market support. He was a €120,000 yearling and is a half-brother to the very smart Magic Mild, who placed at Group level as a 2-year-old. He is also a relative of the top sprinter Laugh A Minute, indicating he should have plenty of natural speed. The main danger, Cerelia, “threw the race away” last time at Southwell due to signs of temperament. In a five-runner field, Majestic Dane’s sheer class and potential for improvement should be enough to see him make a winning start.