Gary O'Brien: Elliott's Festival open to any amount of improvement

Thurles is often jokingly referred to as Ireland's unofficial all-weather jumps track, and that moniker looks under no threat with today's marquee fixture getting the go-ahead following a morning inspection despite temperatures dropping well below freezing overnight.

Footpad is the star name on what is a really interesting card and the former crack novice looks to have everything in his favour in the Grade 2 Horse and Jockey Hotel Chase following a creditable third in the King George last time - but the odds reflect that.

What's not to like about Morris raider

Mouse Morris suffered a blow recently when stable star Sams Profile was ruled out of the Cheltenham festival but Whatsnotoknow can help lift the spirits of the local trainer by putting in a big run in the opening maiden hurdle. The five year-old is bred to come into his own over staying distances but has raced exclusively over the minimum trip to date and has shown a good level of form in both bumpers and over flights.

A bold bid to make all in the Goffs Land Rover bumper at the Punchestown festival saw only the promising Festival D'Ex (more of whom later) overhaul him late on, while he also shaped well behind another Gordon Elliott inmate Daylight Katie on his hurdles bow in October. Although ultimately well-beaten at Leopardstown on St Stephen's Day when last seen, that was a far stronger race than this one and apart from Tramore runner-up Arcadian Sunrise there doesn't look to be a great deal to fear.

D'Ex can enhance Festival claims

Festival D'Ex was having his first start since the aforementioned Punchestown contest (where he was making his racecourse debut) when landing a two-mile Navan maiden hurdle six weeks ago, and the main feature of both performances was just how strong he was at the finish. The Saddler Maker gelding faces much tougher opposition in the 2m6f novice hurdle this afternoon but I'm hoping that he will prove up to the task.

Monkfish in particular looks a formidable rival for what is a really hot race for a non-Graded affair, both he and stable companion Vis Ta Loi having already achieved more than the selection in this discipline. However Festival D'Ex is open to any amount of improvement - he still looked quite raw last time - and today's extra yardage promises to help to elicit it.