Opening day of season asks some hard questions

Sunday's Naas card presents specific difficulties associated with the early days of the Flat season on turf. The opening day usually provides a clear indication regarding which of the top stables are most forward – punters will have to bet virtually blind before racing.

A look at the morning prices is likely to be instructive, particularly in relation to the opening juvenile race (2.10) in which Jim Bolger's Verbitude and the Kevin Prendergast-trained filly Moonlight Bay will top the list for anyone with an interest in historic trends.

With Dermot Weld giving the race a rare miss, the booking of Pat Smullen for the Adrian Keatley-trained Royal Diplomat catches the eye.

Michael Halford, who has enjoyed another fine winter on the all-weather at Dundalk, provides the form horse for the 6f maiden (2.40), Invincible Ryker. The Willie McCreery-trained Virtudes is put forward as the pick of the newcomers.

Mizaah won on her first start last season and has prospects of repeating the feat in a competitive sprint handicap (3.10) in which the veteran Bubbly Bellini, winner of the corresponding race at the Curragh 12 months ago, has a decent chance off a declining mark.

The fillies Vociferous Marina and Zelaniya, representing Bolger and Weld respectively, could dominate the Madrid Handicap (3.40).

Another senior trainer John Oxx can capture the fillies' Group 3 event (4.10) with Flying Fairies, who had useful soft-ground at three for Joe Murphy last season. The gamble here is in omitting Aidan O'Brien's Somehow, the probable favourite if official figures are anything to go by.

The minefield of the Irish Lincoln (4.40) may be best negotiated by including Aussie Valentine, runner-up to stablemate Sruthan at the Curragh a year ago, and Sikandarabad, who is faced with the task of reversing the form of last season's Irish Cambridgeshire with Sea Wolf.