Dundalk holds the fort on the AW on Sunday with the feature the opening handicap over 5f at 2.00.

The first two from last year, ECLAIRAGE and Valiant Force, are back for another go with the winner 2lb higher than 12 months ago and the runner-up 3lb lower, but I’m expecting Daniel Murphy’s filly to confirm the form. Her recent efforts on turf aren’t hard to ignore given she is 0-11 on grass, but she is 4-6 over this course and distance and is certainly well treated on her fourth of 14 from a wide draw in a Group 3 here last October, where she was flanked by much higher-rated rivals. She has the inside stall this time which is handy given she is an established trailblazer, while the first-time cheekpieces may also give her a nudge.

IFF IN DOUBT can take the 7f handicap for 3yos at 2.35. Edward Lynam’s gelding caught the eye when a staying-on fifth of 20 over 6f at the Curragh last time. He shaped there as though the return to this trip, over which he was successful here in February, would be very much in his favour.

The 6f handicap at 3.45 can go to ROCKBURY LAD. It’s quite some time since Michael O’Callaghan’s gelding won over this course and distance, but he does make a fair amount of appeal given he was twice placed off higher marks when last seen on this surface at the start of the year. This does appear to be his optimum trip.

CELTIC DRUID can take the 1m4f apprentice handicap at 4.20. Tom McCourt’s gelding won twice over course and distance in the spring and, after three runs on turf, he now returns to the AW off a 14lb higher mark than for his last success. However, he was beaten less than a length into third of 14 off just 2lb lower in a much stronger apprentice handicap at the Curragh 16 days ago, which suggest he is still improving at the age of five. David Bellingham