2.15 Dooley Insurance Group Cross Country Chase 3m 1f

Neverushacon has a formidable course and distance record and he might enhance it further. The 10-year-old has won twice over the banks at Punchestown and was quite impressive here in November. He ran quite respectably when fourth in a reasonable veterans’ chase at Wexford last month and a return to this discipline could enable him to step forward.

The smart hunter chaser Stand Up And Fight was third in the La Touche here on Thursday and the return to this shorter trip should work in his favour. Ballyboker Bridge, who slipped up in the La Touche, is a thoroughly dependable type who warrants every consideration despite his advancing years.

SELECTION: NEVERUSHACON

Next Best: Stand Up And Fight

2.50 Colm Quinn Group BMW Handicap Chase (0-145) 3m 7f

A chance is taken on Chavi Artist who returns to the scene of a fine front running effort in a decent handicap chase here in November for which he is now 7lbs higher. He hasn’t been able to add to his tally since then but he comes here off a couple of respectable efforts and his latest fifth to Uisce Beatha at Fairyhouse looks a good piece of form in light of the sixth-placed Foxy Jacks going to win a Grade A handicap chase here on Wednesday.

Brace Yourself ran no race in the Irish Grand National for which he was a leading fancy. However, his previous second to Court Maid in the Porterstown Chase is a fine effort and puts him in with every chance. The Irish Grand National hero Freewheelin Dylan is one of the foremost contenders despite being 8lbs higher for his Fairyhouse heroics while Swingbridge likes decent ground and goes well fresh.

SELECTION: CHAVI ARTIST

Next Best: Brace Yourself

4.30 Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (0-150) (Grade B) 3m 120yds

Judgement Day could be worth taking a chance on. This gelding hit a great vein of form on good ground a few years ago when he won four races on the spin from August through to November.

There is perhaps a leap of faith required here but his 9l comeback second to French Dynamite in a conditions hurdle at Leopardstown in March was a respectable run and he didn’t run at all badly when third to Robin Des Foret in a conditions chase at Clonmel next time. A step up to this trip on better ground could aid his cause considerably.

Ten Ten got no run in a handicap chase here on Wednesday and must be considered a strong contender for this prize. He finished a fine 2l second to Scoir Mear in the Leinster National. On slightly better terms, he can reverse that form.

SELECTION: JUDGEMENT DAY

Next Best: Ten Ten

5.05 Baroneracing.com Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m 4f

A typically tricky edition of the last major handicap of the season and a hopeful vote goes to Chatham Street Lad who provided one of the season’s most memorable moments when bolting up at Cheltenham in December.

He has progressed into a novice chaser of real substance this term and bolted up in a 3m Grade 3 at Limerick last time. However, when he was last hurdling he showed some smart form over this trip and was a fine second to Agusta Gold in a smart handicap hurdle over this trip at Navan a couple of seasons ago.

As a hurdler he appealed as one that could land a good prize at some stage and the level he has performed to as a chaser this season heightens enthusiasm for his chances.

He is chosen ahead of Gabynako who was a leading fancy for the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham but fell at the first. That horse was placed in Grade 1 and Grade 2 novice hurdles earlier in the season and picked up invaluable big handicap experience in the Ladbroke at Leopardstown in February when he was beaten 18l but ran respectably considering he made a terrible early mistake.

SELECTION: CHATHAM STREET LAD

Next Best: Gabynako

5.40 Colm Quinn Group BMW Group Mares Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

Spruced Up has struggled to build on an excellent fourth to Black Tears in a quality 2m 2f mares’ handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in February 2020 and she was quite a disappointing favourite at Fairyhouse last month when she finished eighth to Paula’s Prayer in a race for which she was a well backed favourite. In first-time cheekpieces and a first-time tongue-tie, she is worth another chance.

At the foot of the weights, Merry Poppins is interesting. This juvenile ran quite respectably on her handicap debut at Cork over Easter when it seemed as though the 3m trip stretched her. She was eventually beaten 9l into fifth by Josies Orders but over a shorter trip she can do better.

SELECTION: SPRUCED UP

Next Best: Merry Poppins

6.10 Buggyman (Pro/Am) Flat Race 2m

A race confined to newcomers and Guily Billy is a speculative choice to strike for top connections. This son of Coastal Path looked the part when he won a point-to-point at Tinahely in November and he was subsequently sold for £310,000.

Jordan Gainford is an intriguing booking for Gardener. This son of the Derby second Dragon Dancer is out of a Network mare who was placed over jumps, and this yard went close to sending out a newcomer to win a Navan bumper a couple of months ago. Willie The Coo is of obvious interesting and although he is a son of Canford Cliffs, he is a brother to Panic Attack who made a winning debut for this yard in a listed bumper.

SELECTION: GUILY BILLY

Next Best: Gardener