1.40 Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle 2m

There is very little between Captain Cody and Backtonormal who were second and third at Answer To Kayf last time at Naas and renew rivalry off the same terms. The former, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend, is likely to go off favourite, perhaps by virtue of his connections alone, but Backtonormal has a reasonable chance of reversing the form. He had actually been beaten much further than Captain Cody on their previous meeting at Gowran, so Naas was a step in the right direction and this small field race might well be run in a similar style to that contest.

Blizzard Of Oz also ran in the same Naas contest, finishing fifth but not beaten far at all by the aforementioned duo. He is a player again here on only his third start over hurdles.

SELECTION: BACKTONORMAL

Next best: Captain Cody

2.15 Adare Manor Opportunity Maiden Hurdle 2m

Eddie and Patrick Harty have their team in good health and they may be able to strike another winner through Clonshire River. He bounced back to good form when only just touched off by Stagecoach Mary at Thurles last month, the pair of them coming 20 lengths clear of their rivals. He had finished third to Dark Raven in a good maiden hurdle at Leopardstown last season and looks back to that sort of form now.

Crooked Tannie has plenty of experience and should run well again but a more dangerous opponent is Lord Vader on his second start over hurdles. The Emmet Mullns-trained five-year-old is a useful operator on the flat and may well improve from his mid-division finish behind No Flies On Him in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle.

SELECTION: CLONSHIRE RIVER

Next best: Lord Vader

2.50 QuinnBet Hurdle 2m2f72y

Cash Back should be effective in these conditions. Willie Mullins’ 12-year-old has looked close to his best on his latest two starts, when much too good for Desert Heather over three miles at Cork and finding only Beacon Edge too good prior to that at Thurles. Heavy ground suits him well and he should be able to get his own way in front.

Dee Capo ran a remarkable race when second to What’s Up Darling on his previous run at Navan in November - hanging and jumping to his right before coming back from the brink to get within half a length of the winner. He has to go left again here against older horses and that’s a worry but he is clearly very talented. Ashdale Bob has to deal with a drop down to this unique trip but is clearly a classy operator on his day - a dual Grade 2 winner and three times Grade 1 placed at three miles.

SELECTION: CASH BACK

Next best: Ashdale Bob

3.25 Anton O’Toole Handicap Hurdle 2m

It might be worth taking a chance on Clear The Clouds. Gavin Cromwell’s six-year-old stepped forward from his recent comeback run when third to Aodhan May at Navan last month. He was arguably unlucky not to finish second on that occasion, given the winner leaned in on him at the last and seemingly caused a loss of momentum, but nevertheless it was a promising run. He comes back to two miles today but he handles the soft ground well and that should bring his stamina into proceedings.

Gamigin arrives here on a hat-trick and has to enter calculations after a snug win at Down Royal for Noel Kelly, while Magic Olinger also caught the eye on just his second start in a handicap hurdle. Gerard Keane’s horse showed signs of promise when fourth to Don’t Talk at Fairyhouse in December.

SELECTION: CLEAR THE CLOUDS

Next best: Magic Olinger

4.00 QuinnBet Handicap Chase (Listed) 2m5f107y

The lightly-raced eight-year-old Grandero Bello makes appeal for this listed contest. The Eddie and Patrick Harty-trained gelding hasn’t been seen since running fourth to Kilcruit in a good novice handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival but he has a fine record fresh and perhaps more significantly has shown a liking for soft ground. Last season he beat the useful Macs Charm on heavy at Gowran and was only beaten twice, by the talented pair Bronn and then Thedevilscoachman in a Grade 3 at Limerick. He only has six runs to his name over fences so has lots of scope to improve further.

Birchdale is also noteworthy given his good record over this course and distance. He was favourite for this race last season when pulling up but may be in better shape now, having earlier won over the cross country fences at Punchestown. Now Where Or When is one to consider if the ground dries up - he has notable course-and-distance form also and showed good form to finish third to Kemboy and Vanillier in the Bobbyjo Chase around this time last year.

SELECTION: GRANDERO BELLO

Next best: Birchdale

4.35 Willie Gibbons Handicap Chase 3m4f61y

Where’s Frankie may be able to continue his good form for Karl Thornton here. The eight-year-old won three in a row last season but has continued that progression this term, notably producing a strong staying performance to win over three miles and two furlongs at Fairyhouse in January. Dropping back in trip he found only the progressive Evies Vladimir too good at Fairyhouse on his latest start. This return to a marathon distance should suit him and he handles soft ground well.

Old Soul is another who handles soft ground well and he probably wasn’t done with when unseating Conor Stone-Walsh at the second last at Navan recently. He has that rider back on board here and may find more improvement over this longer trip.

Pictures Of Home may be able to get involved as well - Ted Walsh’s gelding only has six lengths to find with Where’s Frankie and gets in here on much better terms.

SELECTION: WHERE’S FRANKIE

Next best: Old Soul

5.07 QuinnBet INH Flat Race 2m

With the benefit of a run, Buckaway Freddie gets the vote in this four-year-olds’ bumper. Gordon Elliott’s son of Flemensfirth ran well on his track debut when finding only Kap De Triomphe too good at Naas, showing he can handle a heavy surface in the process. That experience could be key.

Of the newcomers, perhaps Nitty Gritty can fare best. The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding comes from a decent Whisperview family, the dam Scarlet Sky a half-sister to the useful Lunar Display and Kalopsia, a good bumper horse herself.

SELECTION: BUCKAWAY FREDDIE

Next best: Nitty Gritty