1.10 Kilberry Apprentice

Handicap 5f

Senor Carrots’ turf form isn’t as strong as his showings on all-weather but he could be worth affording an each-way look to off 7lb lower than the all-weather mark he has run well off the last twice. Those two runs came after a layoff of 299 days, so he could yet be a sprinter sharpening up with racing.

Smart Impression, tried now in a first-time tongue-tie, has shown winning potential in the face of slow starts on occasions. It’s possible there might be more to come from her at three. Showbox King is a course and distance winner who warrants respect too.

SELECTION: SENOR CARROTS

Next best: Smart Impression

1.45 Irish Stallion Farms

EBF Maiden 6f

Sorella Carina is a half-sister to Donnacha O’Brien’s Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes heroine Porta Fortuna, so this 400,000gns yearling buy has every chance of being a useful sort for the same stable. Perhaps she will sharpen up for this debut run but 10 of the 11 runners here are newcomers so many are in a similar boat.

Aidan O’Brien has won the last two runnings of this race with high-class operators Aesop’s Fables and River Tiber, so his Wootton Bassett debutant Camille Pissarro is entitled to be taken seriously. He hails from a quality family with a mix of speed and stamina on the dam’s side. Several top yards are represented with newcomers and the market will likely be worth paying attention to.

SELECTION: SORELLA CARINA

Next best: Camille Pissarro

2.17 Space Traveller Irish EBF Committed Stakes (Listed) 6f

It might be the case that he needs better ground to be seen at his very best but Givemethebeatboys made a winning debut over this course and distance last season and looks the one to beat on his peak form, despite having to carry a 3lb penalty for winning last year’s Group 3 Marble Hill Stakes. It’s encouraging to see the stable among the winners this week too.

His Majesty is the pick of Ryan Moore from a Ballydoyle trio and posted some fine efforts in defeat last season. He is in a similar position to Givemethebeatboys in that he hasn’t appeared since August (late September was selection’s last start). Military has a tongue-tie added as he drops down in trip and bids to leave behind a disappointing return in the Madrid Handicap. He’s better than that run suggests.

SELECTION: GIVEMETHEBEATBOYS

Next best: His Majesty

2.52 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Salsabil Stakes (Group 3) 1m 2f

This trip is a step into the unknown for Purple Lily, having won over seven furlongs on debut at Galway and a mile on her comeback last month at Naas, but there is a chance she could be able to stay the extra distance here.

One would expect her sprinting sire Calyx to produce runners for shorter trips, but Purple Lily’s dam won over an extended mile in France and is a half to Irish Oaks third Lady’s Secret, who also won over a mile and a half. She looks full of class and will be an obvious player if seeing this out.

Everlasting created a fine impression when winning at Gowran last season for Aidan O’Brien, and Ryan Moore seems to prefer her to the beautifully-bred Wingspan, who won nicely at Leopardstown 20 days ago.

Ezeliya (Dermot Weld) and Bellezza (Ger Lyons) also looked smart types in maiden wins last season. The experience edge held by Caught U Looking, last season’s Group 3 Weld Park Stakes scorer, is an advantage and she won’t mind a little ease underfoot, returning from a slightly disappointing showing in the Fillies’ Mile when last seen.

SELECTION: PURPLE LILY

Next best: Caught U Looking

3.27 Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3yo Spring Series Median

Auction Maiden 1m 2f

Half of the field have yet to run so there is an element of guesswork and monitoring the market for this maiden. Apache Eagle flies the flag for Joseph O’Brien, who had several others entered up for this race, and gets a tentative vote on debut. The New Approach colt cost 85,000gns as a yearling and has some smart siblings.

Unavoidable, a Glenagles newcomer for Donnacha O’Brien, cost 140,000gns as a yearling and is worth bearing in mind, while Michael O’Callaghan’s 80-rated School Of Law showed winning potential on multiple occasions last year but must bounce back from disappointing at Dundalk three weeks ago. Ciaran Murphy’s debutant Castleheath also has a chance of being useful on paper.

SELECTION: APACHE EAGLE

Next best: Unavoidable

4.00 SBK Vintage Crop Stakes (Listed Race) 1m 6f

Kyprios won this race on his reappearance in 2022 and has all the potential to do similar here, provided he’s sharp enough after 189 days off. Connections made no secret of the fact last year was an interrupted one for the top-class stayer, returning from injury to finish second in both the Irish St Leger and Long Distance Cup in the autumn. Now a six-year-old, he’s entitled to improve for the run but can afford to run below his best and win this.

Dawn Rising could be one who improves as the year goes on and finished two and three quarters of a length behind Kyprios at the Curragh last September, while also well ahead of Yashin. We didn’t see the best of the latter on that occasion, and perhaps he wants better ground in an ideal world, but he was ready enough to win on his seasonal return in 2023 and can overcome being wrong at the weights to earn a decent chunk of the minor money.

SELECTION: KYPRIOS

Next best: Yashin

4.35 SBK Betting Podcast

Handicap 1m 5f

While it mightn’t be ideal that she’s light on experience for taking on a field of battle-hardened customers, Bay Of Sanibel has the potential to be well handicapped off a mark of 75 and can continue a good week for Jessica Harrington and Shane Foley. This Sea The Stars filly proved her stamina, and ability to cope with a dig in the ground, when winning a maiden over a mile and six furlongs here last October and ought to have a fair deal of upside.

Top-weight Byker would be interesting on his return to the flat but whether he’ll be sharp enough after 105 days off remains to be seen. He’s worth a market check. At the opposite end of the weights, Folly Beach has been running well at Dundalk and was second here in October. It’s not ideal that she’s crept up the weights without winning but she should go well under Colin Keane.

SELECTION: BAY OF SANIBEL

Next best: Folly Beach

5.10 Navan Handicap 1m 5f

Eastern Legend signed off last season on the flat with a smart performance to win the October Handicap at Leopardstown and could be able to continue his progress here despite a 10lb hike in the weights. He couldn’t land a telling blow at the business end at Fairyhouse in a Grade 2 juvenile hurdle earlier this month and should be much more comfortable back in this type of contest.

Zoffman is certainly a contender if ready enough on his first start since last year’s Galway Festival, while Feud could be a smart recruit to the Richard O’Brien yard on the basis of his best form with Ralph Beckett in Britain. He’s closely related to last year’s Moyglare Stakes heroine Fallen Angel.

SELECTION: EASTERN LEGEND

Next best: Zoffman