The McMahon's Munster Mile Handicap takes centre stage on the first day of Limerick's weekend meeting and eight runners will lock horns in the feature.

Punters are faced with a puzzling battle of the generations in the 25,000 euros event. Participants range in age from the four three-year-olds, up to the elder statesman of the party, 10-year-old Cairdiuil

Jim Bolger saddled Wexford Opera to finish fourth in this event 12 months ago, and this time the Coolcullen maestro depends on Godolphin's Round Two

From the Classic generation, Round Two will be making his first appearance for 105 days, but he has definitely shown enough in the past, including when winning twice, to be a big player on his handicap debut.

The top-rated runner to strut their stuff on the card also represents Godolphin and Jim Bolger.

Stable jockey Kevin Manning will take the reins again on Stenographer in the Irishinjuredjockeys.com Anglo Race.

Stenographer is assessed as a 95-performer, and that makes him the one to aim at in the five-runner heat.

The American-bred has not been at his best in a couple of outings in recent weeks, coming on the back of a 136-day break after a second placing in the Listed Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes in April.

Ballydoyle's Black Hawk War is in opposition. He reappears quickly after taking his maiden at the first time of asking at the course on Monday.

Dermot Weld 's Sharliyna is the other one to factor in. The Aga Khan's Pivotal filly showed herself to be potentially very useful when victorious in a seven-furlong maiden confined to her own sex at Leopardstown in August.

That form got a good boost in the interim when runner-up Truffles won a Fairyhouse maiden in style towards the end of last month.

Godolphin have prospects elsewhere, too, with Michael Halford's Saltonstall in the Book Online At www.limerickraces.ie Maiden.

Meanwhile, the 85-rated Mack Attack could be the one as he sports first-time blinkers in the opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden.