Ryan McElligott

1.40 P.P. HOGAN MEMORIAL CROSS COUNTRY CHASE 3M

Josies Orders is the choice in a race where his trainer Enda Bolger holds an especially strong hand. The 10-year-old was only just touched off over this course and distance in November and followed that with a good placed run at Cheltenham while he should leave the form of his last run over hurdles well behind.

Josies Orders has the advantage of several recent runs which earns him the vote over last year’s winner and stablemate Auvergnat who hasn’t run for three months. Auvergnat, who was fourth in last season’s cross country chase at Cheltenham, is a very proficient performer in this sphere and is sure to give his stablemate plenty to do. The Bolger-trained Cantlow is another to keep in mind while Mtada Supreme deserves every consideration as he edged out Josies Orders here in November.

Selection: JOSIES ORDERS

Nex Best: Auvergnat

2.10 MICHAEL FITZPATRICK MEMORIAL MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 4F

This could see High Sparrow make a winning start over hurdles. He began his career with a second place finish in a point-to-point at Mainstown and he then showed a fine attitude to get off the mark on his racecourse debut at Limerick over Christmas.

On that occasion he had to dig deep to come out the right side of a three-way tussle but that looked quite a reasonable contest and the third, Diamond Turf, has won since. This trip should suit him well.

Kesselring is a threat. He was having his first run since September 2016 when taking fourth behind Impact Factor in a maiden at this track last month. He is entitled to improve for that run and it is encouraging to note that the two horses that finished immediately in front of him that day have both won maiden hurdles since then.

Selection: HIGH SPARROW

Next Best: Kesselring

2.40 I.N.H. STALLION OWNERS EBF NOVICE HURDLE (LISTED) 2M

Hardline is a tentative choice to take advantage of a drop in class. He won twice over hurdles earlier in the season but has since been competing at the top level. His third in the Royal Bond Novice Hurdle two months ago wasn’t a bad effort and is a better run than his third to Whiskey Sour in a Leopardstown Grade 1 over Christmas where some late carnage enabled him to reach the frame. He should be more at home at this level and earlier in the campaign he was shaping up to be quite a useful novice.

He is chosen ahead of Riders Onthe Storm who turned in a decent effort at Navan last month to account for some useful types in a rated novice hurdle. Another Barney won well on his racecourse debut at Naas and looks quite a promising type. He could get closely involved.

Selection: HARDLINE

Next Best: Riders Onthe Storm

3.15 ENTIRE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL ON RACING UK HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 3M

Several creditable efforts in defeat lately point to Swingbridge’s chances. This gelding ran well to chase home Wee Small Hours in a 2m 4f handicap hurdle at Navan last month and last time out he finished a well-held third to Oscar Lantern in a near three-mile handicap chase at this track. However, the bare result doesn’t convey the merit of his last run as he was going nicely and looking a likely winner until making a very bad mistake at the second last fence.

Danse Away ran with credit to chase home Sir Carno in a handicap at this track last time which makes him a likely contender. Wood Emery is interesting on his first run for a year. He hasn’t shown much so far but his fifth to Ballyward in a Leopardstown bumper in December 2016 wasn’t devoid of promise. An initial mark of 90 gives him a chance and he wears a tongue tie for the first time.

Selection: SWINGBRIDGE

Next Best: Wood Emery

3.45 WWW.PUNCHESTOWN.COM HUNTERS CHASE 3M 180YDS

A chance is taken on Burning Ambition who looks a coming force in this sphere. After winning four of his five starts in the point-to-point field, he made a smooth transition to hunter chasing to win very well at Limerick over Christmas.

This represents a notable rise in class for the seven-year-old but he is stepping forward with every run and his profile would suggest that he could progress into a high class hunter chaser.

Former Grade 1-winning novice chaser and Grand National fourth Gilgamboa has steadily found his form since switching to this discipline and he is chasing a third straight hunter chase success. He sets an exacting standard for his younger rival.

Selection: BURNING AMBITION

Next Best: Gilgamboa

4.20 BOYLESPORTS GRAND NATIONAL TRIAL HANDICAP CHASE 3M 4F

Some four years after his previous victory in the race, Folsom Blue is taken to strike again. A dour stayer, this 11-year-old has been in good heart over hurdles this season and comes here off a couple of honourable placed efforts in quality handicap hurdles. Both at Navan and at Sandown last week he has finished off his races with some purpose which would suggest that he will relish this longer trip and the testing conditions will also suit.

His stablemate Space Cadet is a likely threat. He didn’t run at all badly in the Paddy Power at Chrismtas and he was then third in the Thyestes and this new trip could also work in his favour. The Thyestes fifth Woods Well, another Elliott runner, shaped up quite nicely at Gowran and is another to keep in mind along with the lightly weighted Spider Web.

Selection: FOLSOM BLUE

Next Best: Space Cadet

4.50 STAR MEDICAL SUPPORTING KILMACUD CROKES HURLING (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

Getaway John comes here off two good runs and is the one to beat. His two efforts to date would suggest that a bumper success is well within his reach and he can build on his narrow second to Tornado Flyer at Fairyhouse last month. That was his first run for 11 months so he is entitled to progress off that run.

Castle North showed promise on his sole point-to-point outing in November 2016 and warrants the utmost respect on his debut for the champion trainer. The booking of Nina Carberry for the newcomer Buddy Rich catches the eye and this stable’s occasional bumper representatives are always of interest.

Selection: GETAWAY JOHN

Next Best: Castle North