Shield© Photo Healy Racing
Champion owner JP McManus may be without representation in the two main races on the card at Gowran but elsewhere he appears to hold a strong hand.
Indeed in four races on the programme McManus is double-handed and there is certainly intrigue about one of his pair for the Gowran Park Racing Club Beginners Chase.
It is rare these days to see an Aidan O'Brien runner in this sphere, but Shield starts off over the larger obstacles in the two-and-a-quarter miler.
In common with all the McManus/O'Brien National Hunt horses, Robbie Power takes the mount on Shield.
The Dylan Thomas gelding no doubt is a favourite with his handler as he was also bred by O'Brien and his wife, Anne-Marie, under their Whisperview Trading Ltd banner.
Gordon Elliott 's course winner Riverside City is the other McManus hope and along with Benemeade and Clonbanan Lad helps to complete what has the makings of a smart contest.
Sea The Stars had his first winner over hurdles when Starchitect landed a juvenile event at Bangor on Thursday for Donald McCain and Jason Maguire.
The 2009 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero is the sire of Lone Star the McManus/O'Brien contender for the Golf Memberships 2015 From 749 Euro 3-Y-O Hurdle.
We haven't seen this 70-rated Flat performer since June but he could easily make a hurdler and he's sure to have been well schooled. Alan Crowe will also don the green and gold here, aboard the Christy Roche-trained Bay Hill
McManus has two of the five participants in the concluding MA Brennan Memorial Handicap Chase. Veteran County Wicklow-based operator Francis Flood has care of Down Under for the Limerick man and perhaps he can make the most of his bottom-weight allocation.
Meanwhile, unsurprisingly the Grade C www.gowranpark.ie Handicap Hurdle is well contested given the prize money on offer. The King Of Brega, in here on Friday as well, is one to keep an eye on, but it is Greatness that gets the nod.
