Plenty of class on show at Cork & Navan

The stars are certainly out this weekend with Beef Or Salmon, Solerina, Xenophon and Kicking King just some of the equine quality on show at Sunday´s two meetings, Cork and Navan.

Beef or Salmon faces four rivals in the Grade 2 O´Connell Warehousing Hilly Way Chase at Cork, and Michael Hourigan´s charge will have further vital jumping experience against two mile specialists Knife Edge, Rathgar Beau, Native Scout and Killultagh Storm.

The Gold Cup contender, who got back to winning ways in the John Durkan Memorial Chase at Punchestown last Sunday, won this two miles event last year but probably faces an even tougher task on this occasion.

Southern racegoers also have the chance to view the progress of Kicking King over fences in the Fermoy Novice Chase. Tom Taaffe´s charge jumped well on his reappearance at Punchestown before weakening quickly but should now be spot on.

After winning the Grade 1 Hatton´s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse a fortnight ago, all eyes will be on the James Bowe-trained Solerina in the Giltspur Scientific Tara Hurdle over two and a half miles at Navan.

Having made all to win comfortably two weeks ago, she is likely to adopt similar front running tactics again and, while the likes of Noel Meade´s Rosaker and the Thomas O´Leary trained Scarthy Lad are sure to run well, Solerina has the class to add to her already considerable earnings.

The Tony Martin-trained Xenophon makes his eagerly awaited debut over fences at Navan in the Kevin McManus Bookmakers EBF Novice Chase. An impressive winner of two big handicap hurdles last season, the Pierse at Leopardstown and Coral Cup at the Cheltenham Festival, he faces no easy task against the likes of Sum Leader, Splendour and The Galway Man, but would need to win well to justify his position at the head of the Royal & SunAlliance Chase market.

On an excellent seven race card in Navan the Barry and Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle over two and a half miles has attracted the smallest field of the day but it should still prove to be a very interesting affair.

Newmill made all the running to land the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle at Fairyhouse two weeks ago and this smart sort is likely to head the market here, although his ability to last out this two and a half mile distance may be open to question. He faces strong opposition in the shape of Kadiskar, a Grade 3 winner over course and distance three weeks ago, and Kildare who is likely to appreciate this step up in trip.