Top stayer returns at Leopardstown

Vinnie Roe, ante-post favourite for the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot, will make his seasonal debut at Leopardstown tonight.

The four-year-old heads a field of seven for the Saval Beg Stakes, a Listed race over one mile and three-quarters.

The Dermot Weld-trained colt was a highly-progressive young stayer last season ending a lucrative campaign with victories in the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial St Leger and the French equivalent, the Prix Royal-Oak.

Those two Group One successes mean he is lumbered with the steadier of 10st 1lb and he has to give 32lb to one his rivals, Really.

The most serious dangers, however, are expected to be the John Oxx-trained Dibiya and Holy Orders, winner of his last two races for Willie Mullins.

Vinnie Roe is 6-1 favourite for the Gold Cup with Coral.