12.00 Bar One Racing “Bet 10 Euros Get 50 Euros Sign Up

Offer” Irish EBF Mares Handicap Chase 2m 4f

A tough contest to kick off proceedings. La Malmason disappointed at Gowran last time but wasn’t sighted again afterwards and could be worth affording another chance to, provided she’s not lacking fitness on her first start in 267 days. A winner over an extended two and a half miles at Cheltenham around this time last year, this is probably her best trip and there should be enough pace on up front for her to be seen at her best.

Must Be Obeyed ran a cracker behind Pink In The Park last time in listed company and her last win came at this venue. Broomfield Bijou won’t be found wanting for fitness and should be thereabouts, while Queen Jane would certainly be a player on the basis of her second to Brides Hill in this race 12 months ago but failed to complete on four consecutive starts before a heavy defeat last time.

SELECTION: LA MALMASON

Next best: Must Be Obeyed

12.30 Bar One Racing “Price Boosts Across All Channels” Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 110yds

Willy De Houelle is already no bigger than 6/1 as favourite for next year’s Triumph Hurdle, so he demands obvious respect on his first start for Willie Mullins here. It was in this race two years ago that the same connections sent out Lossiemouth for her Irish debut. Their 2024 candidate won on his debut over flights before finishing second to Nietzsche Has in listed company, with that talented three-year-old set to begin covering mares in 2025.

Of the remaining five runners, three have won over hurdles in Ireland. The most impressive of them was the Willie McCreery-trained Coul Dreamer, who hacked up at Punchestown in a race where his main market rival could never get involved from way off the pace.

SELECTION: WILLY DE HOUELLE

Next best: Coul Dreamer

1.05 Bar One Racing

“Guaranteed Overnight Prices” Porterstown Handicap Chase (Listed) 3m 5f 160yds

This has been a tough race for favourite backers in the last half dozen years, with five of those recent winners returning at 17/2, 10/1, 10/1, 16/1 and 22/1. Gordon Elliott is seeking a third win in the space of the four runnings and could provide the answer with top-weight Favori De Champdou, who has the benefit of Carl Millar’s 5lb claim. A former Grade 2-winning novice hurdler and Grade 3-winning novice chaser, he isn’t exposed in handicap company over fences and looks a thorough stayer. Perhaps the ground won’t be as testing as he’d ideally want, but there is some rain due over the weekend and he might well be better than 144.

Last year’s winner, Street Value, is only 2lb higher than 12 months ago and can’t be ruled out despite mixed form for the remainder of last season. Positive Thinker, who was just touched off in the Cork Grand National four weeks ago, is proving to be a versatile stayer and his consistency over fences means he could easily be bang in the mix again.

SELECTION: FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU

Next best: Positive Thinker

1.35 Bar One Racing Royal Bond Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 110yds

This race has been downgraded from Grade 1 status since last year but it could still produce a future top-level winner in the shape of Romeo Coolio. Last season’s Champion Bumper runner-up has always been highly thought of by connections and he opened his hurdling account in some style at Down Royal, albeit that was a race he looked fully entitled to win on form. It’s not ideal for his supporters that stablemate Bleu De Vassy, an impressive Grade 3 winner at Navan a fortnight ago, has been left in here. However, Romeo Coolio had the stronger bumper form of the pair and can continue on his path to likely Grade 1 targets at Cheltenham (currently a top-priced 10/1 joint-favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle).

Belloccio, a smart handicap winner at Royal Ascot after winning a Punchestown maiden hurdle on his stable bow in May, failed to fire on testing ground when upped to Group 2 company at Ascot on Champions Day but clearly has a sizeable engine. Stablemate Sea Of Sands seemingly hasn’t been the easiest to train but remains a useful operator.

SELECTION: ROMEO COOLIO

Next best: Belloccio

3.10 Bar One Racing “100% Football Acca Boost On Self Service Betting Terminals” Handicap Hurdle (Listed)

2m 110yds

Telecon was an impressive winner here in Easter 2023 before a good fourth to three Willie Mullins-trained rivals at the Punchestown Festival. He then missed 424 days before two spins on the flat and fired a warning shot while finishing third in a decent handicap hurdle at Down Royal four weeks ago. He was ridden more patiently there than his previous hurdles starts and that run could leave him spot on for a return to a track that suits him.

This is a deep race, though, and Frankendael is one of a host of lively dangers. He’s up 10lb for winning at Listowel two starts ago and could well have more to come.

SELECTION: TELECON

Next best: Frankendael

3.40 Bar One Racing “Bet Builder On Self Service Betting Terminals” INH Flat Race

2m 110yds

Gordon Elliott gave a favourable mention to He Can’t Dance in the early-season previews and the £300,000 point-to-point recruit can make a winning rules bow. Now owned by Gigginstown, the Jukebox Jury four-year-old won well at Monksgrange in March for Rob James. Stablemate Koktail Brut has also been declared for the bumper here on Saturday.

Willie Mullins has run some big names in this bumper down the years and Unknown Entity, out of a half-sister to Appreciate It, was sent off the even-money favourite when fourth in a Punchestown Festival bumper on debut for the stable last spring. The winner of that bumper, Sixandahalf, has won a valuable flat handicap since, while the runner-up, Colcannon, went on to land a Galway bumper.

SELECTION: HE CAN’T DANCE

Next best: Unknown Entity