2.00 Charleville Cheese 3-Y-O Hurdle 2m
After making a fine impression in his first two starts over hurdles, winning at Killarney and Down Royal, the safest option here is the Joseph O’Brien-trained Teriferma. A 10lb penalty for those wins doesn’t make life any easier, but the experience he comes here with could be invaluable and decent ground looks to be right up his street.
In terms of these runners’ flat ability, Zaynab is a standout in this company as an 86-rated performer on the level who won a valuable fillies’ handicap at the Curragh on Guineas weekend two starts ago. Perhaps she found conditions too lively when finishing mid-field in the Sandringham at Royal Ascot when last seen 93 days ago, and she also got caught a little out on a wing there. Racing off 10st 5lb here, and tried in a first-time hood, she’s got an obvious chance if her inexperience in this sphere doesn’t catch her out. She’s certainly bred for the job as a half-sister to the stable’s smart hurdler Zanahiyr.
SELECTION: TERIFERMA
Next best: Zaynab
2.30 Cheesestrings Irish EBF Mares Hurdle 2m 4f
With the exception of a blip in a listed mares’ bumper at Cheltenham last November, World Of Fortunes has been extremely consistent and made a solid start to her hurdling career when winning over three miles at Wexford three weeks ago. Dropping back in trip doesn’t look to be a negative and provided she doesn’t come up short as a result of her inexperience over hurdles, she’s open to more improvement than most of these.
Lady Rita has no issue with a lack of experience. She’s been disappointing the last twice, however, and needs to bounce back. A reproduction of her best form would put her bang in the mix. Paggane should appreciate coming back in trip after finishing second over two miles and seven furlongs at Killarney last time.
SELECTION: WORLD OF FORTUNES
Next best: Lady Rita
3.00 Kerry Group Irish EBF Mares
Handicap Hurdle 2m 2f
It’s a positive to see Straight Home stepped up in trip from her eyecatching third on stable debut for Willie Mullins at Tramore five weeks ago. Sent off the 5/6 favourite on that occasion, she got outpaced over the minimum trip and ran on strongly after getting involved in a bit of scrimmaging. Perhaps this point-to-point and bumper winner might even prefer a little further in an ideal world, but she’s at the right end of the weights in mares-only company.
Dame Rapide bumped into a useful sort last time at Bellewstown and this is looks her optimum trip. Despite having to shoulder top-weight, she’s got a decent chance. Ask Cillian, Stormalong and Onefortheditch and Katherine also bring good recent form to the table.
SELECTION: STRAIGHT HOME
Next best: Dame Rapide
3.30 Dairygold Maiden Hurdle 2m 6f
Will Wilde, a bumper winner at Sligo last October, must have a big say if back in the sort of form that saw him finish third at Naas in December behind Quai De Bourbon, though he bombed out badly when last seen at Cork in January. It’s encouraging to see the Liz Doyle stable back on the scoresheet this week at Tramore, having been struggling with a virus earlier in the year.
Uncle Pat had looked a thorough stayer prior to his last start at Kilbeggan over three miles and a furlong. Perhaps coming back slightly in trip here will be a better fit for him now. Eoin McCarthy is no stranger to winners at Listowel and Fast Felix could represent a bit of value in this after taking a step in the right direction when third at Cork on his last start. He ran well when third in a bumper at this meeting last year. Last-time-out Cork bumper winner Ballysax Hank warrants respect too.
SELECTION: WILL WILDE
Next best: Uncle Pat
4.00 Strings & Things Rated Novice Chase 2m 1f 150yds
Reverting back to a small-field novice event should be right up Gua Du Large’s street. The Henry de Bromhead-trained eight-year-old was hampered at the first and unable to get involved from behind when last seen finishing eighth in a competitive, 17-runner Punchestown Festival handicap chase won by Galway Plate hero Pinkerton. He enjoys a sound surface, which he looks set to get here, and ought to be bang there under Rachael Blackmore if his lack of a run for 143 days doesn’t count against him.
Jordans is an interesting French recruit for Joseph O’Brien. The Coastal Path mare finished runner-up in a Grade 3 AQPS bumper last summer and has the benefit of two previous runs over fences, but needs to build on her latest form over hurdles. Air Drop wasn’t beaten far last time at Downpatrick, while Jazzy Matty is coming back to himself since switching to this discipline.
SELECTION: GUA DU LARGE
Next best: Jordans
4.30 Kerry Group Handicap Chase
2m 1f 150yds
It’s unusual to see a top-weight of 12st 6lb in a reasonably valuable handicap chase like this (worth €45,000) but Solness - aided by Oakley Brown’s 5lb claim - could be able to defy the lofty weight. He possibly didn’t have it all unfold ideally for him last time in the Galway Plate, and that trip likely stretches his stamina anyway. Coming back down to something more like his optimum distance now, he might just be able to make his class count.
Je T’Ai Porte posted a fine effort last time at Ballinrobe four weeks ago and should be in the mix again, Magic Tricks is difficult to catch right but has enough ability to be competitive off his mark of 132 (now tried in blinkers), while Senecia is clearly a player if back on song over fences after pulling up when hurdling at Killarney last month. Presenting Lad couldn’t be coming here in better form as he chases a four-timer.
SELECTION: SOLNESS
Next best: Magic Tricks
5.00 Farm & Home Store (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m
With the Liz Doyle team back on the scoresheet again this week, Cappucino could be the vote to make his experience count, having been knocking on the door on multiple occasions in bumpers and maiden hurdles. He clearly disappointed when last seen in February but the stable’s runners reportedly weren’t in the best of health then and this five-year-old had a delayed recovery post race on that occasion.
Bayrann made a promising start to his career in a Kilbeggan bumper last time, Prove Yourself had two decent runs last season but has an absence of almost a year to overcome, while Steppingstone has suggested he could be up to winning a bumper of this level when winning the last twice.
SELECTION: CAPPUCINO
Next best: Steppingstone