1.45 RED MILLS EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle 2m

Conditions are going to be very testing today at Fairyhouse which could make things tricky for punters. This opening race isn’t an easy start and only a tentative vote goes to Liz Doyle’s Silk Worm, who will receive weight from all 12 of her rivals. She showed she can get through this ground when second to Fully Charged at Limerick over Christmas. She was no match for that runner on the day but there was no shame given he ran well in fourth in a Grade 3 race earlier this week and Silk Worm was showing improved form from her previous sixth to Dolcita at Tramore. She can progress again and her light weight could be a big asset today.

Zihuatenejo is an interesting proposition here, running in the colours made known by Big Zeb for Wexford trainer Anthony Black. Davy Russell takes the ride on this six-year-old who won his point-to-point at Tallow earlier this month.

SELECTION: SILK WORM

Next best: Zihuatenejo

2.17 Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

This could be quite informative with a number of unexposed types, particularly from the Willie Mullins yard, but it might pay to go with the proven form of Bajan Excell. Gavin Cromwell’s horse looked to be going the right way when last seen winning a handicap hurdle at Limerick. That prompted a 9lb raise to a mark of 129. Despite the fact he has won twice over hurdles, he isn’t penalised here and if he can improve again he could have too much for these.

Battle Of Wills and Van Meegeren are closely matched on their Naas form but the former should hold sway again, given he meets this rival off level terms today. Paul Townend has opted to ride Gamin Original, which could be significant. He won on soft ground at Moulins on his final start in France.

SELECTION: BAJAN EXCELL

Next best: Battle Of Wills

2.52 Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

Halsafari makes appeal for this valuable handicap hurdle. Michael Bowe’s seven-year-old has been in good form over fences lately, most notably last time out at Naas where he just failed to run down Valdieu in a handicap chase. He returns to hurdles now off a mark which is 7lb lower than his chase assessment and he is also returning to the scene of his course-and-distance maiden hurdle win.

Ificudiwud impressed in his maiden hurdle win last time out but this looks much tougher. Foreign Secretary could hold stronger claims. He finished a close enough fifth to Gran Geste in a handicap hurdle at Galway in October but has since finished third to Abacadabras and fifth to Soviet Pimpernel in Grade 3 races which suggests he could be nicely treated now off a mark which is just 2lb higher than that Galway run.

SELECTION: HALSAFARI

Next best: Foreign Secretary

3.27 Easter Festival 11th-13th April Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

Lagenod represents a more solid option in this open handicap hurdle. A course-and-distance winner on his penultimate run, he finished third to Young Dev off a 9lb higher mark on his latest start. He has been in good form in general this season, and freshened up since he run well again at this course.

Offshore Oscar is interesting but may need this run on his first start in 420 days. Birdie Blitz is sure to be popular after her third to Our Roxanne (franked form since) at Gowran Park last month. Aidan Howard’s mare can improve from that effort.

SELECTION: LAGENOD

Next best: Birdie Blitz

4.02 Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f

This looks a good opportunity for last year’s runner-up Alpha Des Obeaux to go one better. In a race where a lot of his rivals seem to be running below themselves this season, he has been in good form, and was last seen running an excellent third to Walk In The Mill in the Becher Chase at Aintree. There seems a very good chance that he will run at least close to his mark of 158 which would make him very hard to beat.

Bellshill is rated 5lb higher than him but must concede him 10lb, and he seems to be going in the wrong direction so far this term. In this case it may be another Mullins runner Acapella Bourgeois who gives the selection most to think about. He has run well on his previous two starts and is returning to the scene of his Irish Grand National third.

SELECTION: ALPHA DES OBEAUX

Next best: Acapella Bourgeois

4.37 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1½f

Previously well touted, Sizing Pottsie can get off the mark over fences in this beginners’ chase. He jumped well on his chase debut at Leopardstown, and although his effort flattened out coming into the straight that beginners’ chase, won by Melon, was one of the hottest run in Ireland this season. This looks a signifcantly weaker heat and with the benefit of experience, he looks the right call.

Misty Millie was in the process of running well at this course on her previous run before she came down. A more obvious danger is Dakota Moirette who has some good chase form in the book. He was well beaten at this course last time out but may improve from what was his seasonal debut.

SELECTION: SIZING POTTSIE

Next best: Dakota Moirette

5.12 Ian Smith Memorial (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race 2m

Ferny Hollow wears a first-time hood here in what could be a last-minute bid for a Champion Bumper place. He has proven expensive to follow so far however and this looks another tricky assignment.

Frontal Assault gets the vote. He ran very well on his debut behind Energumene at Thurles and with normal improvement coming, he could be a tough nut to crack. Bombay Blue is respected for Noel Meade as well.

His second to The Bosses Oscar reads very well now and a replication of that will see him go close, although it’s a slight worry he hasn’t run in 121 days.

SELECTION: FRONTAL ASSAULT

Next best: Bombay Blue