NOEL MEADE, who has enjoyed a fine start to the season with 29 winners to his credit, can supply us with a winning nap in the shape of Midtown Boy in the Membership 2010 Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse this afternoon.

HE mightn’t be totally straightforward, but Dynasty does appear to have found his level in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden at Dundalk tonight.

“THERE was great pleasure in that”, remarked Tom Cooper, after he watched his son, Bryan, guide the trainer’s Rossdara to success in the Cahir Mares Maiden hurdle at Clonmel yesterday.

SO now we know. Heading to Doncaster on Saturday, St Nicholas Abbey was no more than a promising colt.

OSCAR Carrara is fancied to continue the good run of Tom Mullins in the Bumper at Clonmel today.

TADRIAN Maguire’s Mr Warbucks made a fine start over fences when easily beating Whatuthink in the Thurles Beginners Chase yesterday.

SANTO PADRE can land a spectacular four-timer in the listed Mercury Stakes at Dundalk tonight.

SATURDAY will reveal a lot about St Nicholas Abbey.

THURLES houses its first meeting of the National Hunt season this afternoon, starting with a particularly competitive programme.

EIGHT races, six of them handicaps, make Navan this afternoon an absolute minefield as far as punters are concerned.