2.10 MARTINSTOWN OPPORTUNITY MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Giant Spirit faced impossible tasks when second to a couple of leading novices at Sligo and Gowran Park respectively. Sandra Hughes five-year-old has his sights lowered here and looks to have a real chance to lose his maiden tag. A reproduction of either run, or indeed, his latest fourth placing at Navan should suffice here. He will lack for nothing from the saddle with his young rider in fine form of late. La Bella Vida gets the mares’ allowances against this opposition and has already proven her liking for this venue. She needs to improve further if she is to take the spoils but that is a distinct possibility. With her pilot riding the crest of a wave following his Cheltenham exploits, she will almost certainly be ridden with plenty of confidence.

Selection: GIANT SPIRIT

Next best: La Bella Vida

2.45 ENJOY WHITE GYPSY @FINNS BORRISOLEIGH HURDLE 3M

Sadler’s Risk reverts to hurdles here, having run well over fences on his last couple of starts. A Grade 3 winner at Punchestown in October, he wasn’t disgraced in Grade 1 class at Down Royal on his last run of 2016. This trip holds no fears for the de Bromhead runner and he can grind out a success against some doubtful stayers. There has to be a chance he will need the run but his class may see him home in front.

Open Eagle hasn’t run for over a year but that is seldom a concern with one from this yard. He ran better than his final finishing position in last seasons Albert Bartlett Hurdle and would take beating now if fully wound up. A winner over 2m5f he does have to prove his stamina for this longer trip but there must be a strong chance he will last it out. He is another who may be using this as a prep for something further down the line but it is a nice prize to pick up.

Selection: SADLER’S RISK

Next best: Open Eagle

3.20 CLONOULTY HANDICAP HURDLE 2M7F

Queeny is a course and distance winner here and appears to have been found an ideal opportunity in what appears a weak affair. The six-year-old was successful at this track in December and hinted that she was returning to form when staying on over a similar trip last month. If she can improve slightly from that latter race she should again be competitive and that may even prove good enough to make her presence felt.

The Grey Guy has been disappointing in recent outings but has sometimes run better than his form figures indicate and he is one to consider at a bigger price. He showed more of his old sparkle when seventh at Limerick over Christmas and despite failing to build on that run, he faces lesser opposition now. Any rain that falls will be in his favour and this track will suit his prominent racing style.

Selection: QUEENY

Next best: The Grey Guy

3.55 PIERCE MOLONEY MEMORIAL NOVICE CHASE (LISTED) 2M2F

Diamond King makes a quick reappearance here having been pulled-up at last week’s Cheltenham Festival. The horse is clearly in great heart and the hint should be taken. Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong for the Elliott runner last time and he deserves another chance now. The nine-year-old is well treated by the race conditions and is racing over what may prove his optimum trip.

Great Field has been an impressive winner of both chase starts to date and takes a step up in class here. He is almost certainly ready for the chance to prove himself in stronger company although he struggled when asked to do so over hurdles. On his best form he will make them all go here and his front-running style will make him hard to peg back if allowed too much leeway.

Selection: DIAMOND KING

Next Best: Great Field

4.30 DEVILS BIT BEGINNERS CHASE 2M6F

Art Of Payroll can put his vast chasing experience to good use and land this competitive race. Placed in six of his nine starts over fences, the eight-year-old has raced from 2m to 2m6f and all trips seem alike. Unlucky to bump into some in form opponents at times, he has done little wrong and deserves finally to get his head in front now.

Dicosimo has a similar profile to the Hughes runner; as he has run well in defeat but promised more than he has delivered. He now races over the longest trip he has tackled to date and if staying, he may well improve for the extra distance. It should put less pressure on his jumping and give him the chance to get into a rhythm and put his undoubted class to good use.

Selection: ART OF PAYROLL

Next best: Dicosimo

5.05 JIMMY NEVILLE MEMORIAL HANDICAP CHASE 2M4F

Tulpar has been a model of consistency for new connections and should go very close once again. A winner on his stable debut at Punchestown in January, he has twice filled the runners-up position since but ran with credit on both occasions. A real strong traveller who battles well under pressure, he doesn’t know how to run a bad race and will make them all go to pass him.

Zekarya is well-handicapped on the best of his old form and ran very well at this venue on his recent debut for the O’Brien yard. This step up in trip should see him in an even better light and his young rider is full of confidence at the moment. In a race where a couple of the opposition have questions to answer, he looks the best alternative to the selection.

Selection: TULPAR

Next best: Zekarya

5.40 LITTLETON (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

Dasmyhoss ran a race full of promise on his racecourse debut when third of nine at Leopardstown. The form of that race has worked out really well, with the winner going on to finish second in the Cheltenham bumper. A reproduction of the McNamara horse’s staying-on third should be good enough now, not allowing for the fact he is sure to have learned from that initial experience. Unless there is an above average newcomer in this field then he can take the finale.

Spin A Yarn represents the aforementioned group and hailing from the O’Brien stable he is certain to know his job. Since turning his attention to training, O’Brien has done particularly well in this sphere and any market support for his runner here should be noted. From a decent family, the Flemensfirth gelding commands plenty of respect on his first start in public.

Selection: DASMYHOSS

Next best: Spin A Yarn