Michael O'Callaghan is optimistic of an improved performance from I Am Superman in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 'Sovereign Path' Handicap at Leopardstown.

The handicapper has dropped him by 6lb down to a mark of 98 for this €150,000 contest over the extended seven furlongs.

The seven year-old gelding is having his first run since May and O'Callaghan said: "He is a course and distance winner, he likes that ground.

"He was second in a Group 1 in Australia, he went to Dubai and ran well first time and then, I don't know if it was the heat or what or coming from Australia to Ireland into the winter and then back to Dubai fairly quickly, it just messed up his system a little bit.

"He had a few runs and he is down to a nice mark. He has had a break since the Curragh (in May), he got a month in the paddocks just to let him freshen up and strengthen up.

"He is working well, so I'm quite hopeful."

The Footstepsinthesand gelding has six victories in his locker.