The eagerly-awaited clash between Rebel Fitz and Beachdale Lad in the Christy McSweeney Memorial Novice Chase at Killarney last night had a tragic outcome.

Fleur De Nuit, trained in Galway by John Bleahen, turned over Aidan O’Brien’s hot pot, Marchese Marconi, in the Croome House Stud Handicap at Listowel yesterday.

Pat Smullen is fancied to make a major statement of intent in his bid to be champion jockey by getting seriously among the winners at Galway tonight.

Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen have solid prospects of a treble at Roscommon this evening, with the duo’s Supernovae the nap choice in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Fillies Maiden.