The opening round of the €10,000 to the winner Denis Linehan Solicitors Open Unraced Stake takes centre stage in Curraheen Park tonight.

Always a fantastic event, it was won last year by Droopys Flytline and it's expected to procure plenty of top-class racing at the Cork track over the next couple of weeks. It's also worth mentioning that last year's winner received €5,000 so it's brilliant to see the huge increase in the winner's fund.

Blarney trainer Johnny Linehan should have a leading player in the shape of Droopys Plunge. In the ownership of Roy Ball and Trevor Pearson, the November puppy clocked 28.43 in a recent trial around course and distance and going on that run, the son of Droopys Sydney rates a serious prospect going forward.  

Michael O'Donovan is always worth a following and he has Westside Ranger in the second heat. A recent 28.55 spin around the Cork circuit, the October son of Dorotas Wildcat is another with a bright future. He should be in the mix. Shane Divilly's Crafty Alejandro and the Owen McKenna-trained Evolution are also worth a second look in that heat.

Trainer Robert Gleeson took this great event last year and he's represented with Toolmaker Curio in the third heat. The October son of Burgess Bucks clocked 17.52 in his first mark on his card around the Newbridge 325-yard trip, going on that, he should have plenty of early dash and a big run is expected. 

Callaway Knegare, trained by Owen McKenna for the Field-Sports-Syndicate, is the pick in the fourth heat. The November son of Droopys Sydney flew around course and distance recently in 28.40. That was a cracking run and he looks like a serious prospect.

The fifth and final heat could well be the race of the night, Poldarc, for Eugene Price, Randolph Scotts, for Peter Cronin and Jades Rocket, for John Rainsford, all have sub 28.50 runs in the book and they can battle in out in what is expected to be a superb contest. 

Stonepark Hoffa clocked a sensational 17.25 on racing debut around the 325-yard trip at Tralee and back-to-back winning performances look very likely. Trained by Michael O'Donovan for Michael Sean O'Dwyer, the June puppy should take the world of beating in this.

Bockos Diamond impressed when winning the big unraced below in Kilkenny recently and he can make a winning debut for trainer Graham Holland. Sold after that impressive win in the feature final, he has now joined the champion trainer and he looks like a serious talent going forward. This looks like a good winning opportunity and he should send punters home happy by landing the closing race on the card.