Local racing fans are particularly well-catered for this weekend with a two-day meeting taking place at Tramore. On Friday, it’s an all-jumps card whilst flat enthusiasts will be travelling to the Graun Hill venue on Saturday.

Spiriton will surely go close in the opening August Festival 14th to 17th Maiden Hurdle at 5.45 on Friday.

This Gerry Cully-trained gelding was placed second twice over hurdles last summer. He did however post a most encouraging return to action by finishing fourth off top-weight in a two-mile handicap hurdle at Limerick last week. A former winner on the flat in his native Germany, Spiriton is confidently recommended to see off Propinquity in this two-mile contest.

Harro The Hero is put forward as virtual banker material in the Brennan’s Pharmacy Maiden Hurdle. An Edward O’Grady-trained son of Oscar, he came from well off the pace when failing by a half-length to beat the mare Susie Van Hall in a two and a half mile maiden hurdle at Tralee last Saturday. That was Harro The Hero’s very first start, he has an abundance of pace and if lining out here, then he should have little difficulty in showing a clean pair of heels to Arcadius.

Rebel Dream is taken to make a victorious track debut in the Kilbarry Lodge Stud INH Flat Race. This Paul Cashman-trained daughter of Dushyantor was most impressive when winning a Dromahane mares’ maiden at the first time of asking last month. A well-bred mare that’s quite closely related to former Irish Grand National winner Maid Of Money, Rebel Dream is recommended to beat Hynestown Cowboy.

On Saturday (2.15 start) meanwhile, Maal looks the part in the Waterford & Tramore Directors Ladies Maiden.

This David Marnane-trained gelding won a bumper last year and he finished a fine fourth off his 69 rating in a one mile six furlong handicap at Leopardstown on May 21st. The drop down in trip to a mile and a half is unlikely to inconvenience Maal and the son of Mozart is likely to see off Kerryhead Windfarm.

Kharsya will surely play a pivotal role in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden. Trained by John Oxx, Kahyasi seemed to come up against an above-average sort in Mon Champion when beaten a head into second spot by Pat Flynn’s charge on her second and most recent outing in a Clonmel maiden on May 8th. If reproducing that effort, then Kharsya should have little difficulty in returning to the coveted number one slot from Charleville in this extended one mile six furlong contest.

Bidalia will surely give a positive account of herself off top-weight in the Lisselan Fillies Handicap.

The Michael Grassick-trained Bidalia failed by four and a half lengths to concede seven lbs to Proud To Be Irish in an extended 11 furlongs race at Downpatrick on May 10th. Bidalia has been dropped three lbs to a new mark of 70 for that effort, it was still a very commendable one, and she’s likely to dispense with seasonal debutante Shesthebiscuit here.

Willie Mullins’ Cru should make a triumphant return by edging out Woodland Beauty in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Fillies Maiden and Jumbo Rio is marginally preferred to Sinful Pleasure in the Graun Hill Handicap.

Local Tramore trainer Paul Roche could well provide the solution to the August Festival 14th to 17th Handicap with Hasanpour whilst Hardwick is another to keep an eye out for here. Meanwhile, dual purpose handler Thomond O’Mara should continue his excellent run by saddling Hucklebuck to triumph from Misty Island in the www.tramore-racecourse.com Handicap.