2.00 Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 110yds
Icare Allen looks hard to oppose. He announced himself as a bright talent when winning a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown at Christmas on his debut for Willie Mullins and he followed that with a fine showing in a Grade 1 back at that track earlier this month when he was fifth to Vauban.
He was beaten just under 10l that day after looking sure to play a leading role early in the straight and he did shape better than the final result. That level of form puts him on a different footing to these rivals.
White Pepper is a useful and experienced sort. She has a few lengths to find with Six Feet Apart from their meeting in a listed event at Doncaster last month but possibly didn’t run up to her best that day. Previously she posted a nice effort in a winner’s event at this track. She should be hard to keep out of the frame.
SELECTION: ICARE ALLEN
Next best: White Pepper
2.33 Connollys Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle 2m 110yds
He has been off the track for almost two years but Vinnie Is Busy might be the answer. His trainer is quite capable of producing his charges in fine shape off a lengthy absence and this gelding looked quite a useful type a couple of seasons ago.
He won a Limerick bumper on testing ground in fine style and followed that with an honourable showing in a hot winners’ bumper at Naas before finishing third to the very useful Barnaviddaun in a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick. If retaining that level of ability he showed be closely involved. John Cannon is the one to beat.
He holds a rating of 120 and comes here off two decent runs which have yielded runner-up finishes in maiden hurdles won by Banbridge and Pinkerton. He looks more than good enough to make his mark at this level.
SELECTION: VINNIE IS BUSY
Next best: John Cannon
3.08 Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 165yds
Enniskerry can continue a good week for Barry Connell. This gelding hasn’t run for 212 days but such an absence isn’t a major concern as he produced a horse off a similar layoff to win at Punchestown on Wednesday.
In addition, Enniskerry shaped up nicely during the summer when he won twice over hurdles and was beaten just ½l by M C Muldoon in what was quite a decent novice hurdle at Galway. There could easily be more to come from this relatively lightly raced eight-year-old. His biggest danger could come from Irascible who runs for the first time since finishing fifth in last season’s Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
This gelding’s other form last season included a 9l second to Appreciate It in a Leopardstown Grade 1 and that would suggest he is more than capable of playing a leading role.
Ardhill was very impressive at Ascot prior to Christmas and must warrant a danger to all on his return from two months off.
SELECTION: ENNISKERRY
Next best: Irascible
3.43 Easter Festival 16-18th April Handicap Hurdle (80-109) 2m 7f 70yds
This could see Where’s Frankie make it three wins on the spin. He won a handicap over a slightly longer trip at this track in January – a performance which has earned him a 9lbs rise in the weights – and he won easily when switched to fences for a handicap over an extended 3m here four weeks later. There looks to be more to come from him and he should take all the beating.
Memory Of Youth is a formidable rival. She has gone up 20lbs in the weights for her last three starts which have included two wins over shorter trips at this track.
The step up in distance is not a problem for her as she was second over just short of 3m on her penultimate outing at Punchestown.
The former winning point-to-point Kilbree Warrior boasts some reasonable maiden hurdle form.
It is interesting that she switches back to hurdles in first-time cheekpieces and she would look well treated on efforts such as her fifth to Ashdale Bob in a Navan maiden last season.
SELECTION: WHERE’S FRANKIE
Next best: Memory Of Youth
4.18 Tote Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f 110yds
Burrows Saint has a good chance of bagging his first success in just over two years. A runner-up in this race last year and then fourth in the Grand National at Aintree, he shaped up very well on his most recent outing when chasing home dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo in a Grade 3 at Tramore. A repeat of that form should make him very hard to beat.
Escaria Ten is interesting. He was a quality novice chaser last season and shaped much better than the final result in last month’s Thyestes Chase at Gowran where he eventually finished eighth behind Longhouse Poet.
The National Hunt Chase third is fitted with blinkers for the first time which could bring about some progress on his part.
The Grand National third Any Second Now is respected but won’t find this easy trying to give away 8lbs to his aforementioned rivals.
SELECTION: BURROWS SAINT
Next best: Escaria Ten
4.50 Vote For Nina, Text 53125 Rated Novice Chase 3m 1f 110yds
In her quest to make it three wins on the spin, Regina Dracones had to settle for seventh in a competitive novice handicap chase at Naas last month.
However, a longer trip and appreciably softer ground should work in this mare’s favour and she does seem well suited to the demands of this track having won over hurdles here a couple of times last season. Her biggest threat could come from Joshua Webb.
He spent a year on the sidelines after winning a Navan maiden hurdle last season and has steadily been finding his feet over fences.
So far he has struggled to get involved in decent beginners’ chases but his last two runs have contained some promise and the switch to this level could see him step forward.
SELECTION: REGINA DRACONES
Next best: Joshua Webb
5.25 Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 110yds
What Path is an unoriginal choice to make a winning debut for Willie and Patrick Mullins who have a tremendous crop of bumper horses this season.
This son of Coastal Path is from a family that has produced some quality stayers such as Ungaro and Houblon Des Obeaux and looks quite capable of playing a leading role in a race his trainer won with Ferny Hollow two years ago.
Kansas City Star won a Loughrea point-to-point in the autumn where a last fence faller left him to come home well clear of his opponents. He too represents top connections.
The Limerick bumper runner-up Bellaney Lord is an interesting contestant and Walter Grey would also warrant consideration if he could get back to the form of his debut second to Gerri Colombe in a Naas bumper 12 months ago.
SELECTION: WHAT PATH
Next best: Kansas City Star