She's A Star bidding to win most valuable prize on Navan card for Noel Meade

She's A Star is expected to appreciate the return to two and a half miles in the Tara Handicap Hurdle (1.20), the richest prize on Navan's card.

A dual winner over hurdles, the Noel Meade-trained mare won over the trip at Galway last season and has posted two good efforts over two miles on her last two starts.

Meade said: "She's A Star has run third on her last two starts and the extra half mile should play to her strengths. She is on the small side and 11st is probably plenty of weight for her but she's in very good form."

Diamond Cauchois, a three-time winner over hurdles, twice for Sue Bramall, will be having his second start for Gordon Elliott after running third over the trip in the Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle at Naas on his most recent start last month.

"Diamond Cauchois ran very well at Naas. He should have come on for the run and will love the ground and the distance," Elliott said of Davy Russell's mount.

The Jessica Harrington-trained Oscar Sam, who heads the weights for the 16 runner event, is a four-time winner over the distance – once at this track – and will be bidding for a first win since scoring over three miles at Leopardstown in January.

Future stars of the sport

Gordon Elliott has won three of the past six runnings of the Future Champions Bumper (3.30), with Don Cossack (2011), Death Duty (2015) and Samcro a year ago.

Strongly represented by the odds-on favourite Rapid Escape, the mount of Lisa O'Neill, in today's five runner finale (Elliott's other intended runner Felix Desjy does not go), Elliott said: "He's done very well this season and is a very smart horse. Rapid Escape won well at Punchestown last time and is in good form."

Felix Desjy (near side) winning his point-to-point at Dromahane

Lady Ischia and One First Cut are the other bumper winners in the line-up for the Listed event while Holycross Lito, third in his only bumper, is the winner of four point-to-points.

Jack Kennedy, who performed a staggering recovery to stay with Robin Des Mana and win a beginners chase at Clonmel ten days ago, again partners Gordon Elliott's charge in the 2m1f handicap chase (3.00). It will be the six-year-old's first run in a handicap.

Shadow and Self out to do battle

The Irish Stallion Farms EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (2.10) tops the bill at Thurles, with course-and-distance winners Dawn Shadow and True Self among the six declared.

True Self, who represents Willie Mullins, is a dual bumper winner who scored on her hurdling debut at the course last month.

"True Self will love the ground and seems to be in fine form. We're looking for black type and she looks to have an excellent chance," Mullins said.

The Dot Love-trained Dawn Shadow will be bidding for a third win over hurdles and will be renewing rivalry with Lesley Dawn, who she beat by four and a half lengths last month.

The Dot Love-trained Dawn ShadowCredit: Patrick McCann

Jessica Harrington, trainer of Lesley Dawn, said yesterday: "Our filly seems in good form. She probably needed the run last time and we're hoping she might turn around the form with Dawn Shadow this time."

Joseph O'Brien is represented by Dawn In The Park who is only one from seven over hurdles and who will be returning from a 154 day absence.

Tipperary maiden winner Creation, who finished in rear behind Samcro at Navan last month, represents Henry de Bromhead.

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