2.10 Return Of The Jumps Mares Beginners Chase 2m
Brides Hill is comfortably the best of these over hurdles and she can make a winning debut over fences. She was really progressive last season, winning a lowly maiden hurdle at Tramore back in August, before beating the likes of Hallowed Star and Suprise Package in handicap hurdles and then concluding her season with a career best listed third to Party Central at the Punchestown Festival. That is a cut above the form of her rivals today.
Happy D’Ex has a race-fitness advantage but will need to step up on what she has shown so far if the selection fires. She won her bumper at this track but failed to make a mark in novice hurdles before winning at a lower level recently. Broomfield Hall might actually give the favourite more to do. She is also coming off a career best win at the Punchestown Festival and may well enjoy the prospect of fences.
SELECTION: BRIDES HILL
Next best: Broomfield Hall
2.45 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 5f
Amirite could be up to winning on his chase debut. A Loughrea point winner, he struggled to make a significant mark in two maiden hurdles but ran reasonably well when fourth to Journey With Me at Leopardstown last Christmas. He might have had a setback after his next run because he missed most of the second half of the season before coming back to win his maiden hurdle in Kilbeggan in April, which he did so easily. He remains a nice prospect.
Grand Roi brings a good level of form into this race but essentially has been disappointing and was no match for a horse rated below him over hurdles on his chase debut at Listowel. Palace Rock might be a better option. He was nicely progressive over hurdles last season and warmed up for this with a run on the flat at Down Royal
SELECTION: AMIRITE
Next best: Palace Rock
3.20 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase 2m 7f 192yds
Hurricane Darwin is an interesting contender. He’s basically a banks specialist and showed his prowess at that speciality with a win at the Punchestown festival last May, but he has since returned to action with a win over hurdles at Listowel. His last run over regulation fences came off a mark of 136 and his last win was off 127, but he can run off 105 today and after showing he can deal with hurdles over a possibly inadequate trip, this looks very manageable for him.
Direct Image should be noted also. She won four in a row last term, including a handicap chase over this course and distance. She is excused her last appearance - pulled at Wexford in August - and if back to form, she is handicapped to go very well here, given her hurdles rating is 10lbs higher.
SELECTION: HURRICANE DARWIN
Next best: Direct Image
3.55 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f
Kilbunny Pontic can get off the mark after a promising hurdles debut at Listowel. She ran second to Willie Mullins-trained mare Carrigmoorna Queen, with the pair of them pulling clear, so it was a really good start. Previously, she dead-heated in a bumper at this track before failing to make a mark in graded bumpers. A winner of a Curraghmore point, she could improve now for a jumping test.
Sainte Dona might give her most to do. She ran very well when last seen, finishing second to the useful Outback Flyer at Wexford in April. That was just her fourth ever run and her third over hurdles, she has scope to improve now on her first start of the season.
SELECTION: KILBUNNY PONTIC
Next best: Sainte Dona
4.30 Sign Up Now To gavinlynchracing.com Handicap Hurdle 2m
It might be worth taking a chance on Tom McGreevy, who returns to hurdles following two falls over fences. He was running well prior to those falls, and previous to that, he was progressive over hurdles, winning at Ballinrobe and finishing second on three other occasions.
Doyenna makes appeal as a lightly raced five-year-old who could have more to offer having won her maiden hurdle at Tramore and then finding only One Cool Poet too good at Down Royal. Lariat is also unexposed, over hurdles at least, and ran well on when placed on his last two starts so can make the frame again.
SELECTION: TOM McGREEVY
Next best: Doyenna
5.05 Book Your Early Bird Tickets For The Winter Festival Handicap Hurdle 2m
Unlaoished makes plenty of appeal after a couple of promising runs to finish second on each of her previous two starts. Nigel Slevin’s mare chased home Ask The Leader at Downpatrick before staying on nicely into second behind Berliet Express at Gowran Park last week. She opposes that runner again but on 6lb better terms and now has the assistance of Rachael Blackmore in the saddle.
This isn’t the strongest contest and while Berliet Express and Trishknowsbest warrant respect having won last time out, it might be worth chancing on a potential springer from the pack which could be Grand Cru Chatho. Eddie Cawley’s gelding has only run five times and had shown little but he was about to run well in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle last March, staying on from the rear before he fell at the last. Off a mark of 90, he is worth a market check this morning.
SELECTION: UNLAOISHED
Next best: Grand Cru Chatho
5.40 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Auction Flat Race 2m
Nucky Johnson sets a decent standard here off the back of his third to Absolute Notions in the Goffs Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown. That was a fine run in a highly competitive field and this doesn’t look anywhere near as hot.
Chainofconsequence could give him most to do if turned out quickly having run at Galway on Tuesday. He ran well to finish fourth in the maiden hurdle won by Music Drive, belying odds of 80/1 in the process, so deserves respect back in a bumper.
SELECTION: NUCKY JOHNSON
Next best: Chainofconsequence