Khayar can recoup losses
The gelding has been in good form over hurdles this summer but he reverted to the level for the first time in more than a year when a fast-finishing fourth at Ballinrobe on Monday. His race was lost at the start when he conceded considerable ground to his rivals and was always playing catch-up.
If he can get away on terms with the field here, there's every reason to expect a big run and he can prove too strong for Kristal Komet.
The next best bet on the card comes in the closing race, where the Willie Mullins-trained Dorset Square is expected to return to winning ways.
He failed to fire on his most recent outing, at Galway, but prior to that he recorded victories at Killarney and Ballinrobe.
He should be suited to the drop in class for this race and was runner-up on his only previous outing at this track. Gary Carroll, who won on him at Ballinrobe, is on board again and he can steer the useful hurdler to his fourth success on the level.
At Dundalk tomorrow, Jessica Harrington's Gush should take a lot of beating in the EBF Fillies' Maiden. The daughter of Empire Maker showed plenty of speed when third behind subsequent Anglesey Stakes runner-up After on her debut at the Curragh back in June, and is sure to have progressed from that outing. She has the potential to be above average and should take some holding.
The danger is likely to come from Mahaazen, who was runner-up to subsequent Phoenix Stakes winner La Collina on her debut. She was a shade disappointing when beaten at Galway last time but will be hard to keep out of the frame.
Strandhill had his first start for Denis Cullen when a fine fourth behind Adam's Return at Leopardstown last month and will take beating in the Bar One Racing Handicap. Initially awarded a mark of 76 when going handicapping in 2009, he raced off a mark of 61 on his most recent outing.
He's been upped a couple of pounds for that promising effort but there's every reason to expect his new trainer can find further improvement. The concern is that he's drawn very wide but jockey Pat Smullen is a positive booking and he should give backers a good run for their money.
Pozyc, who was an easy winner of a flat handicap at Galway, is likely to be very popular in the betting for the Richard Power Private Clients Betting Handicap Hurdle at Tramore tomorrow but there could be value in opposing him with David Marnane's Separate Ways.
The last-named is a far superior animal on the flat and he starts life in handicap hurdles off a very workable 102. That mark is only four pounds higher than his current figure on the level, and though he must improve markedly on what he's shown over timber to date, he's got to be of interest.
