12.10 BetVictor Irish EBF

Beginners Chase 3m 182yds

This is good opportunity for Stratum to get off the mark over fences. On his last start the high-class dual-purpose runner was beaten two lengths into third by West Cork Wildway in a two-mile, six-furlong beginners’ chase at this track. This doesn’t look as strong a race and the longer trip will be no problem, while the good ground will be fine for him too. He is also entitled to have improved for that initial chase outing and should be too strong for his stablemate Cavallino.

The latter won a maiden hurdle at Clonmel last season and was a mid-race casualty on his comeback in a Gowran beginners’ chase won by Bob Olinger last month. He looks the most likely one to chase home the selection in a race that lacks strength in depth.

SELECTION: STRATUM

Next best: Cavallino

12.40 Molony Cup Handicap Chase (0-109) 3m 182yds

It is hard to look past the chances of Beating The Odds who ran a splendid race on his handicap chase debut when finishing third to the remarkable Glenquin Castle at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago.

He has been left on the same mark for that showing and now returns to a track that yielded a three-mile handicap hurdle success on reasonable ground last March. All this points to his capacity to mount a strong challenge and he can deal with Stealthy Tom.

The latter could only manage sixth behind Laughing Trix at Fairyhouse last time but had previously won a handicap chase over just short of three miles at Killarney in October and a return to that form will see him closely involved.

SELECTION: BEATING THE ODDS

Next best: Laughing Trix

1.10 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase 2m 2f

The Chapel Field could bring up a double for Willie Austin. He is a course-and-distance winner with quite a formidable record at this track which also features a close second to the useful Espion Du Chenet over two miles here last February. He finished well down the field in a handicap hurdle on his comeback last month but that run is easily forgiven and a vastly improved effort is expected here.

The consistent Ricky Langford should be involved. He ran very well to finish third to All The Chimneys in a handicap chase here last month and turned in another good effort to reach the frame in a handicap hurdle won by Clarens at Navan several weeks ago.

SELECTION: THE CHAPEL FIELD

Next best: Ricky Langford

1.40 BetVictor Irish EBF Boreen Belle Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2m 6yds

The trip is a concern for Lunar Display but on the other hand she brings a strong level of form into this race and that earns her the vote. Her second to Hollow Games in a Navan Grade 3 last month is a good run and so too was her runner-up effort behind Chemical Energy the following week.

A repeat of either run could enable her to see off the experienced The Getaway Star. That one wasn’t at her best last time but her previous fourth to Dysart Diamond was a good effort in the context of this race and her overall form would suggest that she is more than good enough to play a leading role here.

SELECTION: LUNAR DISPLAY

Next best: The Getaway Star

2.10 Happy Christmas To All Handicap Hurdle 2m 6yds

A chance is taken on Aarons Day who does have to shoulder top-weight but is a very capable sort at his best. He won a two-and-a-half-mile Fairyhouse maiden and a two-mile handicap at Naas a couple of seasons ago and looked as good as ever when second on his return to action last season without quite producing his best on his next few starts.

A 258-day absence isn’t a concern given how he ran first time out last season and he can deal with the returning Mighty Tom.

The latter was placed in a decent handicap hurdle at Killarney in May having previously finished a good fifth to Hearts Are Trumps in a Grade A handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse over Easter.

Those runs mean that he sets quite a decent standard at this level.

SELECTION: AARONS DAY

Next best: Mighty Tom

2.40 Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle 2m 7f 69yds

Nell’s Well could be the answer here. She produced a decent effort to chase home Priory Park in a two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle here last month before turning in a revelatory effort to land a three-mile Grade 3 novice hurdle at Cork last time where her opponents included the very useful Churchstonewarrior.

If she turns up in similar form she is entitled to go close and she is preferred to Mr Fred Rogers who won a two-mile, five-furlong maiden hurdle at Punchestown last month before then running a respectable third to Ginto in a Grade 2 at Navan two weeks ago.

SELECTION: NELL’S WELL

Next best: Mr Fred Rogers

3.10 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race (Div I) 2m 6yds

She was a major disappointment on her debut at Naas last March, but Burn The Evidence produced a much more promising display at Fairyhouse several weeks ago when taking third in a bumper won by The Nice Guy.

That represented a pleasing effort against some useful geldings and it would suggest that a mares’ bumper success should be well within her reach.

She can deal with Reine Machine who has shown up well to be placed on both her starts on the track with her latest effort yielding a third to Something Abouther at Limerick last month.

SELECTION: BURN THE EVIDENCE

Next best: Reine Machine

3.40 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Flat Race (Div II) 2m 6yds

Eabha Grace looks up to making a winning debut.

She is a daughter of the much sought after Walk In The Park and she is out of a listed-winning hurdler for Willie Mullins who now numbers Bob Olinger amongst her siblings.

This very well-bred sort is preferred to Churchtown Ruby who showed plenty of potential last time out when finishing second to Itsallabouteve in a maiden hurdle on Limerick’s inner track.

Scarlet Witch might be the other one to focus on following her third at Wexford in late October.

SELECTION: EABHA GRACE

Next best: Churchtown Ruby