Stephen Mahon trainer of Aranhill Chief© Photo Healy Racing
Aranhill Chief faces 11 rivals as he bids to defend his title in the thetote.com Connacht National Handicap Chase at Roscommon.
Steve Mahon 's gelding was a length winner off a mark of 117 last year but he will be lining up off a figure of 123 this time around despite not registering a win in the interim.
His lack of recent form would not make Aranhill Chief the most obvious choice for glory, with the likes of top-weight Mr Diablo and Robert Tyner's Sir Abbot boasting better recent form.
Gordon Elliott fields two of the four runners in the Dermot Hughes Car Sales Novice Chase as Tiger Roll and Chatham House Rule both take their chance.
Davy Russell has been booked to ride Chatham House Rule, who was a winner at Punchestown last month, while Barry Geraghty will be aboard Tiger Roll, winner of the 2014 Triumph Hurdle and victorious over fences last time out. Sandymount Duke looks to be one of the main players in the Ladies Day At Roscommon On July 4th Beginners Chase after the Grade One-placed hurdler hit the bar on his fencing bow last time.
The opening Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Auction Maiden provides the biggest pot of the Flat action and there are a few nice juveniles going to post.
Ger Lyons' Dancing Waves is currently in the Moyglare Stud Stakes entries and makes her debut, while the likes of Billy Big and Hailstone have already shown ability in previous racecourse outings. Benny Paret and Munaashid were separated by less than a length when fifth and sixth in the Curragh maiden won by Hit It A Bomb last year and lock horns on their return in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.
