Aussie Valentine has filled the runner-up spot in the Irish Lincolnshire for the past two years and can make it third-time lucky in the €100,000 contest on the opening day of the Flat season at Naas tomorrow.
Paul Deegan's charge had to play second fiddle to stablemate Sruthan at the Curragh 12 months ago but can grab the limelight for himself this time.
The Aussie Rules gelding looks on a nice mark now off a 5lb lower rating than last term.
He performed well in a couple of hot handicaps after his run in this race last year before his form tailed off a bit in mid-summer.
A couple of runs at Dundalk over the winter have been promising, however, particularly his fourth last month which should leave him spot on for this.
The ground looks set to be testing, despite a drying forecast, and he looks better suited by that than a few of the other leading contenders.
Dermot Weld has a decent record in the race and Sikandarabad is sure to figure prominently on a lot of people's lists.
He has a nice profile for the race and has scope for improvement.
The form of his second in the Irish Cambridgeshire last season is strong and he followed that up with another good run in a valuable contest on Irish Champions weekend.
The going would be the one concern for him, however, with Weld stating in the past that he'd love top of the ground.
Sea Wolf looks the pick of Ger Lyons' pair but again testing conditions are a worry for a horse that has bled in the past.
It's a seriously competitive event, as ever, but given the underfoot conditions Aussie Valentine looks the safest bet.
Weld has got off to a flying start in recent years and looks to have a couple of likely types in handicaps earlier on the card.
Sharliyna makes her handicap debut in the six-furlong contest and looks potentially lightly treated.
She was last seen chasing home a decent sort in Black Hawk War in a conditions race at Limerick last October.
That rival went on to finish runner-up in Listed company and holds a mark of 99.
The Aga Khan filly only went down by three-parts-of-a-length to that rival in Limerick so her rating of 89 looks very attractive now, particularly as she makes only her third start and her owner's horses tend to improve from three to four.
Zelaniya also carries the same colours in the Madrid Handicap and again she looks to be in off a nice mark on her handicap debut.
The Lawman filly looked a bit of a tricky customer when winning at Gowran in October but she also looks to have a fair amount of ability and a rating of 85 looks generous for another potential improver.
The star of the show at the seasonal opener is no doubt Somehow.
She is unlikely to be fully tuned for the Park Express Stakes but it would be disappointing if she couldn't beat this field in the Group Three.
The drop back to a mile shouldn't be an issue as she showed nice acceleration to win the Snow Fairy Stakes in some style at the Curragh, over nine furlongs, despite a tardy start.
Selections
2.10 Moonlight Bay Verbitude
2.40 Solomons Seal Alphabet
3.10 Sharliyna (nap) Mizaah
3.40 Zelaniya (dbl) Circus Ring
4.10 Somehow Czabo
4.40 Aussie Valentine Sikandarabad
5.10 Inca Gold Feathery
