The Grade One Maplewood Developments Hurdle takes centre-stage on a seven-race card at Punchestown and Noel Meade will be hoping to land it for the third year in succession.

The Castletown maestro is responsible for two of the five runners and rising star Jered will be fancied to get the better of his nine-year-old stablemate Harchibald.

Jered improved enormously at the end of last season and having resumed where he left off with a comfortable defeat of Cork All Star at Down Royal, there's every reason to suggest he is going places.

The presence of last year's leading IIrish juvenile Won In The Dark and the return of Sizing Europe adds plenty of spice to the contest.

The latter shot to prominence with a taking victory over the reopposing Hardy Eustace in the AIG Europe Champion Hurdle at

Leopardstown in January and appeared to be cruising on the heels of the leaders when favourite at Cheltenham, until all but pulling up through injury.

The main event is ably supported by the Grade Two Ladbrokes.com Better Prices Bigger Wins Novice Chase and Sizing Africa can take his chasing record to three wins from as many starts.

A dual bumper scorer, he failed to win from seven attempts over timber last term but he's made a flying start over the bigger obstacles and last month's 27-length victory over Dancing Hero at Cork was particularly impressive.

The one who may be capable of upsetting him is Northern Alliance who also remains unexposed in this code.

Action commences at 12.35 with the www.punchestown.ie Handicap Chase and the race has an open look to it. < Ross Accord has been bumped up 17lb for a five-and-a-half-length win at Down Royal - a race in which Dan George fell - while Spring

Charm has posted another fair effort since beating Rakamasi and Macs Canyon here last month.

High-class bumper performer Corskeagh Royale fell on his hurdling bow at Galway but gets another chance to prove himself in the I.N.H Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle.

Pierse Hurdle winner Barker pulled up on his second chase start at Killarney but he's been given time to recover and would have every chance in the G.A.A Fundraisers Beginners Chase if repeating the form of his second to The Last Hurrah.

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