ATHLETICS: Brendan Teer starts as hot favourite for victory in Downpatrick

Teer, from the promoting club, recently returned from injury to compete at Raheny. He won the Rollercoaster in both 2014 and 2015 as well as taking the Portaferry 10 Miles and if he fully fit, Teer should win comfortably.

Newcastle pair David O’Flaherty and David McNeilly will be the closest challengers. O’Flaherty has come third, second and second for the last three seasons while McNeilly, the former Darragh Cross winner, has also been on the rostrum here.

Martin Melville, also of Newcastle, should place highly along with East Down’s Barrie Atkinson and Annadale’s Colin McMullen.

Newly crowned intermediate champion Shalene McMurray from Newcastle will start as Ladies favourite if she competes. She was in a class of her own in Coleraine.

Rebecca Henderson and Gerrie Short - the winners for the last two years - will be in action along with the home club’s star Catherine O’Connor, Cheryl Denvir and Laura Gardiner.

There are eleven races altogether. The action opens at 12noon.

Also on Saturday, a big field is expected at Antrim Castle Grounds for the penultimate race in the Born 2 Run Forest Series.

The series has been dominated by Mourne Runners pair William McKee and Laura Graham and they are expected to take the major honours again.

Meanwhile, local track stars will be in action at the Glowhealth AAI Indoor Games in Athlone on Sunday. Amy Foster, fresh from success in the Welsh Indoor Championships at 60 metres, will be hot favourite while Terry O’Flaherty, Katie Kirk, Christine McMahon and Jonathan Browning will all be hoping for medals.

On Saturday and Sunday, the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt plays host to the Northern Ireland and Ulster Juvenile Indoor Championships.