After last week’s abysmal attempts, there is admittedly a degree of trepidation about previewing this evening’s fare at Dundalk. But then, as will be revealed in much greater detail later in the year, this corner has never been known to back away from a challenge.

It may rank as statement of the blindingly obvious, but, as is a common thread with the Flat scene in Ireland, tonight’s fare in the North East is likely to be dominated by the O’Brien family.

The big story out of which is the beginning of DONNACHA O’BRIEN joining the training ranks. Now, of course, it inevitably leads to a burgeoning of the already strong hold – to put it mildly – held by Coolmore on things. Be that as it may, no more than his brother, Donnacha is unlikely to be able to base his operation solely on the support of the Magnier/Tabor/Smith triumvirate so he’ll undoubtedly have to work as hard as anybody to make an imprint on the others.

He could, however get off to a winning start on his first night out courtesy of FLOWER GARLAND

5.00: BAMBARI (WAYNE LORDAN/FOZZY STACK)

5.30: LETS GET STARTED – EW – (NIALL MCCULLOUGH/OLIVER MCKIERNAN)

6.00: IRRADIATE (MIKEY SHEEHY/JOSEPH O’BRIEN)

6.30: EL CONQUISTADOR – EW – (SHANE CROSSE/JOSEPH O’BRIEN)

7.00: NO NEEDS NEVER (SHANE CROSSE JOSEPH O’BRIEN)

7.30: FLOWER GARLAND (GAVIN RYAN/DONNACHA O’BRIEN)

8.00: COMHGAIRDEAS – EW – (PADDY HARTNETT/ANDY SLATTERY)

8.30: BELEAGURMENT – EW – (RORY CLEARY/JOHN MCCONNELL)