Kevin Blake

2.10 RACING 19TH MARCH MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

This test represents a good opportunity for the Gordon Elliott-trained Icario to make it sixth-time lucky over hurdles. The four-year-old hasn’t been doing much wrong in defeat of late, most recently finishing second to Outspoken at Naas, and this looks to represent the weakest race he has contested thus far. Conditions shouldn’t be a problem for him and he is likely to be tough to beat. The one to chase him home at a bigger price could well be the Val O’Brien-trained From Eden.

Selection: ICARIO

Next best: From Eden

2.45 MERIDIAN SECURITY MARES MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Willie Mullins looks to have found an excellent opportunity for his Bargy Lady to get off the mark over hurdles at the fourth attempt. The five-year-old made a winning debut in a bumper at the Listowel Harvest Festival and has acquitted herself well in all three of her starts over hurdles to date. This represents a drop in class for her and it will be disappointing if she fails to capitalise on that and win. Of the rest, Aidan Howard’s Not A Whisper makes the most appeal.

Selection: BARGY LADY

Next best: Not A Whisper

3.20 MEATH HOSPICE HOMECARE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 4F

Marginal preference is given here to the Gordon Elliott-trained Monastic.

The five-year-old only hinted at promise in four starts in maiden hurdles, but showed much more on his handicap hurdle debut at Fairyhouse over three miles last time, finishing sixth to Nicole’s Milan. The drop back to this shorter trip could well suit him and a bold bid is likely to be forthcoming.

Of those with more experience, Camlann has been acquitting himself well of late and should go close again for Shark Hanlon.

Selection: MONASTIC

Next best: Camlann

3.55 FOLLOW NAVAN FACEBOOK BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 4F

It will be a surprise if Gordon Elliott’s Kings Bandit fails to make it fifth-time lucky over fences in this maiden chase. The nine-year-old was trained by Oliver Sherwood until earlier this season and he ran his best race yet over fences when a close third to Starchitect and Takingrisks (subsequently won a novices’ handicap chase off a mark of 130) in a novice chase at Ayr in January. A reproduction of that effort will make him very hard to beat.

The best of his rivals may prove to be the Declan Queally-trained Cloudy Morning, as this trip will suit him better than the two miles he ran over on his chasing debut last month.

Selection: KINGS BANDIT

Next best: Cloudy Morning

4.30 MERIDIAN SECURITY HANDICAP CHASE 2M 1F

Henry De Bromhead is currently enjoying his best-ever season and Show And Go could well add another victory to the win column for him in this contest. The eight-year-old has been steadily progressing over fences of late, winning his latest start at Punchestown in gritty style. A 4lb rise for that may not be enough to stop him following up in this. Of his rivals, the Arthur Moore-trained Ontopoftheworld is getting the hang of chasing based on his recent second over this course and distance and is likely to be fancied to go close again.

Selection: SHOW AND GO

Next best: Ontopoftheworld

5.05 NEWGRANGE VETERANS HANDICAP CHASE 3M

The Noel Meade-trained Texas Jack won two Grade 2 chases back in his prime in 2013/14 and although he has slipped down the ratings since then, he bounced back to winning ways in a rated chase at Fairyhouse last time. That performance marked him down as one that can compete off this type of mark and now that he gets the opportunity to race in veteran company, he could well follow up in this.

The main danger to him could well be Sandra Hughes’ Canaly, with the 12-year-old having won a handicap chase at Punchestown on his penultimate start.

Selection: TEXAS JACK

Next best: Canaly

5.35 ATHBOY (PRO-AM) INH FLAT RACE 2M

An interesting contest to wrap up proceedings and Gordon Elliott introduces an intriguing prospect in Coeur De Beauchene. The son of Peer Gynt made a promising start in point-to-points when second to Plus One in a maiden at Kirkistown in November and subsequently changed hands for £115,000 the following month. His most interesting rival is the Philip Dempsey-trained Stowaway Forever, with the five-year-old having ran well when a close fourth of four to Carter McKay in a two-mile, three-furlong bumper at Naas last month.

Selection: COEUR DE BEAUCHENE

Next best: Stowaway Forever