Mick Halford is hoping Cosmic Vega can make his presence felt in the Listed Coolmore Sioux Nation Concorde Stakes at Tipperary this afternoon.

A four-time winner and successful in the Owenstown Stud Stakes at Naas in May, the Lope De Vega five-year-old was close-up fifth when sent off favourite for the Vincent O´Brien Ruby Stakes on his most recent start.

A proven performer on testing ground, the 103-rated bay faces stiff opposition in this extended seven-furlong heat, with the progressive Dunum Group 2 winner Insinuendo and recent Listowel victor Maud Gonne Spirit amongst his rivals.

Speaking at Dundalk on Friday evening, Halford said: "He ploughs away through that ground and I'm looking forward to running him.

"He is in good form and it has been the plan for him for a while. He has been training well for it and his last couple of bits of work were good.

"He has a 3lb penalty for winning his Listed race and there is five of them I think rated 103 and one of them rated 101, so it is tight.

"He's going there well and loves a left-handed track. I'd say the trip is good for him and he would handle the ground better than most, maybe."

Additional reporting by Michael Graham