Ultima can get off the mark over flights in opener
Colm Murphy's charge only showed a little ability in bumpers, but has looked a much better horse since being launched over flights.
He made a solid start when beaten a length and a half by Bisley at Gowran Park and again hinted his turn would not be long delayed at Roscommon subsequently.
Spes Ultima went down by two and a half lengths to the ill-fated Sorting Limerick, with Arc Lemanique, who went on to score twice at the Galway Festival, a length and a quarter behind in third.
The selection appears to stay really well and it will be no surprise should the canny Walsh make plenty use of him.
Walsh also has prospects aboard Tipperary All Star in the Renault Traffic Hurdle, although he has been largely disappointing over jumps.
He does, however, get a handy 7lbs from the main dangers and should be all the better for a recent spin on the level at Leopardstown.
Cool Touch and Good Surprise, they meet on exactly the same terms as in a handicap, promise a fascinating tussle for the Her Majesty's Plate.
Good Surprise ran a fine race when runner-up to Tusculum at the Curragh a week ago and is guaranteed to get every yard of this mile and five.
Preference, however, is for Cool Touch. He comes here in terrific form, having won his last four, and was particularly impressive on his latest appearance at Leopardstown.
It should certainly pay to keep Ruby Walsh on your side at Killarney tomorrow. He rides Anno Jubilo in the Torc Travel Beginners Chase and Charlie Swan's nine-year-old gets the nap.
Anno Jubilo finished a close third behind Callow Lake and Articulation at Tralee earlier in the week and that looks good enough.
Walsh teams up with Galway Plate second Ansar, in the ladbrokes.com Hurdle, and Dermot Weld's smashing servant has to be the choice.
Two other Walsh possibilities, both for Weld, are in-form Le Leopard, fresh from three in-a-row on the level, in the AIB Killarney Handicap hurdle and Lowlander in the FAXCO Asset Finance Handicap Chase.
Miss Mason, third to Haroni at Tralee, is the one to beat in the Niall Brosnan and Co three-year-old Maiden Hurdle.
