1.30 PwC Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 70yds
Blue Mosque lacks experience in this sphere but looks to be in good company to make a winning start over hurdles. A debut winner of a four-year-old fillies’ bumper at Naas on her only start last April, the runner-up has yet to appear since but the third, fifth and seventh from that eight-runner field have won maiden hurdles since.
Miss Dishy ran well when third on her return to hurdles at Roscommon, though the winner and fourth from that contest have been beaten since. She’ll appreciate not having to give away a penalty for her bumper win here like last time. Ma Bess has lots of experience to call on and needs respecting, while Clever Minded finished four and a half lengths ahead of Miss Dishy on debut at Galway before failing to really progress last time at the same venue.
SELECTION: BLUE MOSQUE
Next best: Miss Dishy
2.05 Garrynacurra Stud (C & G) Maiden Hurdle 2m 70yds
Sporting Glory showed quality bumper form last season for Pat Fahy and can make a winning start to life with Gordon Elliott after changing hands for £120,000 in the sale of Steve Parkin’s Clipper Logistics National Hunt horses last May. He’s also had a run over hurdles when fourth behind Mirazur West in a Fairyhouse Grade 2 last Easter.
Wrecking Ballbilly hasn’t been seen since a promising third to Firefox at Down Royal 345 days ago and now debuts over hurdles. Point-to-point recruits I Ballyadam Moon and Taponthego are of some interest.
SELECTION: SPORTING GLORY
Next best: Wrecking Ballbilly
2.40 Crown Paints Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 92yds
An 8lb rise was to be expected for In For The Night after a win that was more stylish than the bare margin suggested last time at Gowran. While able to remain in this 80-109 handicap grade again, he’s entitled to be in the thick of things once more. King Kali will appreciate any rainfall given his Listowel success last time, Rockbrook clearly likes it around here and Billy Lee Swagger improved nicely through last season so may yet have more to come this term.
SELECTION: IN FOR THE NIGHT
Next best: Billy Lee Swagger
3.15 John Thomas McNamara Series (Q.R.) Handicap Hurdle 3m
Wa Wa can blow a little hot and cold but his latest showing at Roscommon was encouraging enough and this type of contest could suit him quite well. The stable have got a couple of winners on the board in the last fortnight and the nine-year-old is in a competitive grade.
Stellar Symphony has run well here before and won last time so ought to be in the mix. Size Five landed a bit of a touch at Perth last time on his return from 640 days off and can be bang there again despite a 12lb hike.
SELECTION: WA WA
Next best: Size Five
3.50 BoyleSports JT McNamara Munster National Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 3m
Gordon Elliott is out to land his fourth Munster National in the space of nine years, and Favori De Champdou could be the one to deliver the goods from his seven possible runners (two are reserves).
A Grade 2-winning novice hurdler and Grade 3-winning novice chaser at this venue before, he isn’t exposed in handicap company over fences and is a guaranteed stayer.
Perhaps the ground won’t be as testing as he’d ideally want, but he ought to have a right say as the mount of Jack Kennedy if sharp enough after a break.
Stablemate Chemical Energy has the potential to win a race like this but likely won’t want the rain to arrive.
Horantzau d’Airy ran well when facing an impossible task behind Flooring Porter in the Kerry National and is entitled to be bang there again.
Perceval Legallois and Yeah Man are shortlist material for Gavin Cromwell.
SELECTION: FAVORI DE CHAMPDOU
Next best: Chemical Energy
4.25 STL Logistics Handicap Chase 2m 3f
Shantreusse’s record might read no wins in eight starts over fences but he’s much better than that suggests and could be able to get off the mark in this sphere in this €45,000 prize. It was a fair effort from him to finish seventh in the Topham at Aintree when last seen given the mistake he made five fences from home and rain would aid his chances.
Palace Rock needs to improve on what he’s shown so far over fences but is on an attractive chasing mark relative to his hurdles rating, while The King Of Prs has won here before and commands respect despite his lack of a recent run. Stablemate Midnight It Is competes from the right end of the weights and looked progressive when last seen in January.
SELECTION: SHANTREUSSE
Next best: Midnight It Is
5.00 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 3f
Farren Glory was unlucky not to win two Grade 1 novice hurdles last season, albeit they weren’t the strongest of races for the grade, and he can make his class count on his first chasing start under rules (previously fourth and second in his two point-to-points).
It’s obviously not ideal to note he had blood at his nostrils when disappointing at the Dublin Racing Festival last time. However, a mark of 146 over hurdles makes him the form standout pick here.
Mint Boy, rated 137 over flights, is also debuting over fences and can give him most to think about. He won a point-to-point on his only start between the flags.
SELECTION: FARREN GLORY
Next best: Mint Boy