12.25 Aqua Process Solutions 3-Y-0 Maiden Hurdle 2m
Bunting, a winner of his only start on the flat in France, is difficult to get away from on debut for Willie Mullins. The champion trainer has traditionally introduced some smart performers at this meeting and the Tony Bloom-owned gelding could be anything.
Bright Legend has the potential to make up into a decent juvenile hurdler if taking to jumping. The lightly raced-gelding made a promising start to his flat career at the Curragh before shedding his maiden status back at that venue on his next outing.
SELECTION: BUNTING
Next best: Bright Legend
12.58 Signsplus Maiden Hurdle 2m
Picture Of You can go one place better here, having stayed on strongly close home when runner-up at Cork last month. The Henry de Bromhead-trained filly had previously shown promise when third on her hurdling debut at that same venue. Despite having shown little in two runs on the flat, the daughter of Authorized appears a much better hurdler.
Jolie Coeur Allen must have been showing plenty at home prior to being sent off favourite for a Grade 2 Mares Bumper at Aintree in April. While she finished a creditable fifth on that occasion, it was disappointing that she failed to make a winning hurdling debut at Tramore recently.
SELECTION: PICTURE OF YOU
Next best: Jolie Coeur Allen
1.33 Lyons Of Limerick
Jaguar Land Rover Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 7f
Loughglynn obviously has to prove his stamina given he has yet to race over this distance but holds strong claims if doing so. The form of his Naas bumper win from last December looks particularly good now, while he couldn’t have done it any easier when making a successful start to his hurdling career at Punchestown recently. Second-season novice Search For Glory looks much more the finished article this term. Gordon Elliott’s gelding wasn’t stopping when winning a Grade 3 hurdle over three miles at Cork earlier this month.
SELECTION: LOUGHGLYNN
Next best: Search For Glory
2.08 Mr. Binman Mares Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
Me Wee Bonnie Lass may lack the experience of the majority of her rivals but Gavin Cromwell’s unbeaten mare has most potential. A maiden hurdle winner at Downpatrick on her racecourse debut in July, she belied her inexperience when making a winning start to life in handicap company when successful at Gowran Park last month.
Last year’s winner Missiee has every chance of claiming back-to-back wins in the race. The Eoin McCarthy-trained seven-year-old is higher in the weights now but has hinted of late that she might be capable of defying that revised mark.
SELECTION: ME WEE BONNIE LASS
Next best: Missiee
2.40 O’Kelly Brothers
Demolition Rated Novice Chase 2m 1f 160yds
The King Of Prs can complete a hat-trick, while at the same time maintaining his unbeaten record over fences. Having won a handicap hurdle at Listowel in September, Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old made the perfect start to his chasing career when scoring at Wexford on his reappearance last month. A reproduction of that run would almost certainly suffice.
Henn See, who was runner-up in that aforementioned contest, went on to win his next start at Clonmel earlier this month. Although he impressed on that occasion, there is no obviously reason why the gelding should turn the form around on similar terms.
SELECTION: THE KING OF PRS
Next best: Henn See
3.15 BRC McMahon
Reinforcements Handicap
Chase 2m 1f 160yds
Teescomponentsyess has to prove his effectiveness for this shorter trip but might be worth chancing at a track where he has twice been successful in the past.
The seven-year-old likes to make the running on testing ground, so if he can get into a rhythm up front then he could be difficult to peg back in the latter stages of a moderate affair.
Rolly Bowley Boy also tends to race prominently so it will be interesting to see if similar tactics are employed. The fitting of a first-time visor would suggest that the Ciaran Murphy-trained gelding will be towards the front end.
SELECTION: TEESCOMPONENTSYESS
Next best: Rolly Bowley Boy
3.50 CJ Sheeran Mares
INH Flat Race 2m
Magic McColgan, a full-sister to King George winner Tornado Flyer, who also finished third in the Cheltenham bumper, is an intriguing runner.
Willie Mullins has plenty of options for his string over the Christmas period, so the fact he introduces this smartly-bred filly here is surely of some significance. Connections will be hoping that she can make an immediate impression.
Sainte Boal, who won her only point-to-point start easily, should have improved from a recent debut over hurdles at Navan. The very fact her trainer has decided to revert to a bumper here suggests she must be showing plenty on the gallops.
SELECTION: MAGIC MCCOLGAN
Next best: Sainte Boal