Gordon Elliott's Irish raider Absolute Notions can prove a class apart in the Pertemps Network Group Handicap Hurdle at Musselburgh on Sunday.
The 2022 Goffs Land Rover Bumper winner mixed it with the very best as a novice hurdler last season, finishing third behind subsequent Grade One winner Inthepocket in a Grade Two at Naas before filling the runner-up spot behind Good Land at the Dublin Racing Festival on this weekend 12 months ago.
Absolute Notions was disappointingly pulled up when favourite to bag a Grade One victory of his own at Aintree in the spring, with his trainer putting the performance down to the rain-softened ground.
The six-year-old made light of testing conditions when making a successful reappearance at Fairyhouse in November, but he was a 1-12 shot that day, so he was entitled to win whatever the terrain.
Elliott has continually insisted his charge will be better on a sounder surface and switching to handicap company for the first time with a mark of 143, he should prove hard to beat.
Liari can maintain his unbeaten record for Paul Nicholls in the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle.
A winner on his hurdling debut at Wincanton in October, the son of Cracksman looked to have raised his game significantly when following up in Listed company at Aintree.
His task is not straightforward in Scotland, with Cheltenham winner An Bradan Feasa a worthy rival, but Liari is fancied to come out on top.
Tommy's Oscar is backed to defy top-weight in the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase.
The nine-year-old has been a fantastic servant to Ann and Ian Hamilton, with a couple of Grade Two triumphs featuring among 11 career victories to date.
He is 4lb higher in the weights than when registering his most recent success at Kelso in the autumn, since when he has finished a creditable fourth in the Old Roan at Aintree before disappointing slightly back over hurdles at Doncaster.
Tommy's Oscar has been given plenty of time to recover from that effort and his recent form suggests he is simply a better horse over the larger obstacles these days.
He is perhaps more comfortable over 3200m than over the 4000m he encounters this weekend, but Musselburgh is a sharp track and the ground is rarely testing, so he might just get away with it.
There are two Listed races for all-weather fans to look forward to at Lingfield, with Dear My Friend and Annaf tipped to score in the BetMGM Tandridge Stakes and BetUK Kachy Stakes respectively.
One-time Classic contender Dear My Friend showed his well-being on his recent return at Newcastle and fully merits this step back up in class, while Annaf ended 2023 on a high by winning the Group Three Bengough Stakes at Ascot and can pick up where he left off at a track where he is two from two.
All-weather action also comes from Newcastle, where Oliver Show should take some beating in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Handicap.
George Boughey's charge was a big eyecatcher when doing his best work late on to finish second at Gosforth Park three weeks ago and can go one better under Billy Loughnane.
Most eyes will be on day two of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, where Willie Mullins looks set to dominate once again.
It is impossible to look beyond State Man in his bid for back-to-back victories in the Chanelle Pharma Irish Champion Hurdle.
Bar a defeat to Constitution Hill in last season's Champion Hurdle, the seven-year-old has never really been troubled when completing over obstacles and more of the same is anticipated.
Fact To File can upset esteemed stablemate Gaelic Warrior in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase, a drop back in distance is not seen as a major inconvenience for Ballyburn in the Tattersalls Ireland 50th Derby Sale Novice Hurdle and El Fabiolo should outclass his rivals in the Ladbrokes Dublin Chase. - Press Association
SELECTIONS:
LEOPARDSTOWN: 14.40 Feet Of A Dancer, 15.10 Fact To File, 15.40 Ballyburn, 16.10 El Fabiolo, 16.45 State Man, 17.20 Inothewayurthinkin, 17.50 Bialystok, 18.25 Aurora Vega.
LINGFIELD: 15.00 Charlatan, 15.32 Red Flyer, 16.02 Laheg, 16.37 Dear My Friend, 17.12 Annaf, 17.45 Brave Empire, 18.17 Make Clear.
MUSSELBURGH: 15.20 Liari, 15.50 Mint Gold, 16.25 Whistle Stop Tour, 17.00 ABSOLUTE NOTIONS (NAP), 17.35 Tommy's Oscar, 18.05 Duyfken, 18.35 Kinbara Hills.
NEWCASTLE: 19.00 The Turpinator, 19.30 Urban Road, 20.00 Juicy, 20.30 Parthenopaeus, 21.00 Oliver Show, 21.30 Cubanista, 22.00 King Of The Jungle, 22.30 Stallone.