1.20 SEAMUSWELDON.COM MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 1F

An interesting opener and Shane Ryder could well have the answer in the shape of Pateen. The four-year-old made a winning debut in a bumper at this track in May and shaped with plenty of promise on his hurdling debut at Roscommon earlier this month when second to Hallmark. As well as being his first start over hurdles, it was also his first run since June, so improvement can be expected from him and he is the one to beat. The Joseph O’Brien-trained King Of Aragon has been a bit disappointing over hurdles to date, but has acquired plenty of experience and should run a solid race.

Selection: PATEEN

Next best: King Of Aragon

1.50 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF NOVICE HURDLE 2M 6F

Willie Mullins looks to hold the key to this contest in the shape of the promising Bel Sas. The five-year-old won a bumper earlier this year before appearing to have his limitations exposed in winners’ contests but he has looked an even better horse since being sent hurdling. He has won a maiden hurdle at Bellewstown and a novice hurdle at the Galway Festival in authoritative style and could well be capable of better still. He will be tough to beat. The main danger to him looks to be the Gordon Elliott-trained Delegate who unseated his rider in the novice hurdle at Galway that was won by the selection.

Selection: BEL SAS

Next best: Delegate

2.25 MCSWEENEY ARMS HOTEL HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 6F

The Charles Byrnes-trained Sea Light was an expensive failure when strongly fancied on two separate occasions at the Galway Festival last month, but he can make amends in this less competitive company. The eight-year-old is still fairly treated based on his old form and with this course and distance promising to suit, he is likely to take all the beating. His most interesting rival looks to be the Jessica Harrington-trained Weather Watch, an unexposed hurdler that should be well suited by this longer trip.

Selection: SEA LIGHT

Next best: Weather Watch

3.00 INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 1F

Gordon Elliott looks to have found a good opportunity for The Plan Man to make it third time lucky over fences. The son of Jeremy ran very well in his first two starts over fences at Tramore and Limerick and can be excused a below par performance in the Galway Hurdle last time. This is much less competitive and it will be a surprise if he doesn’t go close. Of the rest, the Martin Brassil-trained All The Sevens will be of interest if bouncing back to the form of his second to Gambling Girl at Killarney on his penultimate start.

Selection: THE PLAN MAN

Next best: All The Sevens

3.35 FRANK TWISS MEMORIAL BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 4F 120YDS

A real treat for this time of the year with two smart hurdlers taking each other on over fences in the shape of the Willie Mullins-trained Briar Hill and the Gordon Elliott-trained Taglietelle. Briar Hill is rated 149 over hurdles and made a highly promising debut over fences at the Galway Festival, finishing a head second to Talk The Lingo, shaping as if this longer trip would suit. Taglietelle holds an official rating of 152 over hurdles and also made his chasing debut at the Galway Festival, finishing a close fourth to Scamall Dubh. While there is unlikely to be much between them, marginal preference is given to the latter.

Selection: TAGLIETELLE

Next best: Briar Hill

4.10 MSL CORK MERCEDES-BENZ H’CAP CHASE (GRADE B) 2M 4F 120YDS

Another competitive handicap and Henry de Bromhead might have the answer in the shape of Elegant Statesman. The nine-year-old has steadily come good over fences, with two-and-a-half miles on a sound surface proving to be his optimum conditions. He is likely to have been aimed at this contest for quite some time and he is a leading contender. A solid alternative to the selection is the John Ryan-trained Draycott Place, with the seven-year-old acquitting himself well in similar contests of late.

Selection: ELEGANT STATESMAN

Next best: Draycott Place

4.45 BORDEAUX RACECOURSE (P-A) INH FLAT RACE 2M 1F

An intriguing winners’ bumper and preference is given to the John McConnell-trained Go Another One. The four-year-old joined his current handler after finishing second in a point-to-point and couldn’t have made a better start for him than when bolting up in a bumper at Market Rasen in July. While he has much more on his plate here, the style of his win suggests he can compete in this class of contest. The pick of the remainder looks to be the Emmet Mullins-trained Arbor Des Champs, with the five-year-old having won at Tramore and run well to finish second in a winners’ race over this course and distance.

Selection: GO ANOTHER ONE

Next best: Arbor Des Champs

5.20 ML LYNCH CIVIL ENGINEERING (Q.R.) RACE 2M 1F

This has been won by some smart sorts over the years and the Willie Mullins-trained Simenon would be a worthy addition to the list. The nine-year-old famously won twice in the one week at Royal Ascot in 2012 and has continued to represent himself well at a high level since then. He has won his last two starts in conditions hurdles in good style and looks to hold all the aces in this contest. The only one with an official rating in the same parish as the selection is the Dermot Weld-trained Zafayan, but he has only been running creditably at best in recent starts.

Selection: SIMENON

Next best: Zafayan