Ronan McNally hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons recently but he will be out to highlight his skills as a trainer once again in the Grade Two Boyne Hurdle (2.40) at Navan tomorrow.

McNally is facing extinction from the training ranks after being hit with a 12-year ban with the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) insisting that “his offences strike at the integrity of the sport”.

The Armagh trainer was proven guilty of “a deception of the public, especially the betting public” and if his appeal is unsuccessful, the ‘warning off’ takes effect from March 1 and essentially disqualifies from any involvement in racing.

Given that many others are lauded for their ability to land a coup, one of McNally’s biggest offences seems to have been rubbing the noses of Irish racing’s regulator in it and his ban is totally excessive.

The exploits of Dreal Deal – which went from a lowly mark of 84 all the way up to 145 – sparked much of this unprecedented ban and the eight-year-old could be one of McNally’s final runners as he bids to go out with a bang.

​Dreal Deal landed the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle two seasons back and could be primed for a bold bid under Denis O’Regan having shown his rude health with a few fine efforts on the Flat in recent months.

Meanwhile, the return of Blazing Khal for Charles Byrnes will be watched closely given that the seven-year-old had been a horse on everyone’s lips before meeting a setback.

The dual Grade Two winner has been off the track for 428 days and is likely to strip fitter for the outing while the Willie Mullins-trained Saint Sam returned to smaller obstacles in good style at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve.

Dreal Deal may be the each-way value if back to his best, though, while 10 go to post in the Grade Two Ten Up Novice Chase (3.40).

The Jonathan Sweeney-trained Churchstonewarrior, with Aidan Coleman in the saddle, will bid to go one better than his Grade One second over Christmas but this looks a tricky renewal.

The Listed Novice Hurdle (2.10) is a juicy affair with several having chances but faith is kept with Gordon Elliott’s classy American Mike, despite being on a retrieval mission after an off-colour effort at the Meath track in November.