1.05 Private Security Ltd Cleaning and Maintenance Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle 1m 7f 131y

This is a trappy opening contest with little evidence available and perhaps a few likely to be minding themselves ahead of a possible tilt at the Boodles Juvenile Hurdle next month.

Brazil is the only maiden in the race but is compensated for that fact as he receives at least 4lbs from all his rivals. The Padraig Roche-trained gelding has run well in all three of his maiden hurdles, finishing fifth in a traditionally hot contest won by Icare Allen at Leopardstown over Christmas and then fourth to The Tide Turns at Punchestown on his most recent start. A son of Galileo who has a flat rating of 84, he has the potential to emerge as a good hurdler and may be able to get off the mark here.

Delante is an interesting recruit for Tom Cooper; a Walk In The Park filly who won her only start in France but because that race was worth over €10,000, she has to concede 3lbs to most of her rivals here, and 7lbs to the selection.

Un Des Flos is another recruit from France for Gavin Cromwell, and he ran better than his finishing position on his Irish debut in a Navan novice event, where he was hampered by a faller but kept on to finish fifth. He can build on that today.

SELECTION: BRAZIL

Next best: Un Des Flos

1.40 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle (IRE Incentive Race) 2m 3f

All eyes on Journey With Me who has been touted by many for Grade 1 novice hurdles at Cheltenham and gets to make his second start today. He was a smooth winner of a Gowran bumper last season, notably the same heat his connections took with Bob Olinger 12 months previous, and there was plenty to like about his hurdles debut at Leopardstown.

He jumped and travelled well from the front, and the form of the race has worked out very nicely through the runner-up Minella Crooner, placed at Grade 1 level back at Leopardstown last Saturday, and Kilcruit, a wide margin winner at Punchestown on his next start.

Hi Ho Phoenix should give him most to do. He failed to win on three bumper starts but looked a big improver for hurdles at Fairyhouse where he ran out a nine-length winner over just short of three miles.

O’Toole is another nice prospect, placed in a Grade 1 bumper last season and a smooth winner on his hurdles bow, though the form of that race looks fairly weak. Choice Of Words is a smart mare and her run to finish second to the highly rated Daly Tiger at Limerick could be a little underrated. She has plenty of experience also.

SELECTION: JOURNEY WITH ME

Next best: Hi Ho Phoenix

2.15 Cavan Developments Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle (Div I) 1m 7f 131y

Harald Hardrad made a pleasing start to his hurdles career when finding only Whatdeawant too good at Navan and the Noel Meade-trained seven-year-old can get off the mark now. Previously a comfortable winner of a Clonmel bumper, the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding took a step forward over hurdles, and that form looks reasonable in the context of this race. He can improve again and if he does he’ll be difficult to beat.

Marvel De Cerisy ran a nice race to finish fifth to Watch House Cross in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over Christmas and that sort of effort will have him competitive here. He wears a first-time tongue-tie which could help and there were some signs that his trainer Henry de Bromhead was regaining form this week.

SELECTION: HARALD HARDRAD

Next best: Marvel De Cerisy

2.50 Cavan Developments Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle (Div II) 1m 7f 131y

Goven has shown enough on his first two starts to suggest he can win this contest. Seventh to Sir Gerhard in a Leopardstown maiden hurdle over Christmas, he stepped forward from that run to finish second to Hiaou at Punchestown on his most recent start. He actually looked set to win there, only to be run out of it late on by the runner-up, and the pair of them finished clear of a useful sort in Killer Mode.

The mare Mighty Blue is an interesting runner. She is smart on the flat and added a listed race to her CV over the summer but prior to that she earned a rating of 133 after a number of good efforts over hurdles, headlined by her third to Telmesomethinggirl in the Mares’ Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Maybe she will need this first run back but she has the talent to get involved. Luimneach, trained by Des McDonogh, is noteworthy for his name given he is owned by J.P, McManus. The son of Fame And Glory makes his debut here and may be worth monitoring in the market.

SELECTION: GOVEN

Next best: Mighty Blue

3.25 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 131y

A tentative vote goes to Plassey House. He makes his handicap debut here for Pat Fahy, after three maiden hurdle starts. In truth he failed to land a meaningful blow in each of them, but his most recent one, a 29-length fourth to Ebasari, was his best effort and he is in among horses of his level now, and compensated for his ability with a mark of 101, which could underestimate him. He is completely unexposed against a lot of his rivals so could be worth chancing in an open race.

Recent Gowran one-two Uncle Gerhard and The Toothpicker are also relatively lightly raced and are both open to further improvement after showing promise in that run. Uncle Gerhard, Conor O’Dwyer’s gelding, came through to win smoothly there, and in the style of a horse that has plenty more to offer.

Whiskey Lullaby is another one worth noting after he got off the mark for Willie Mullins over fences last time and he could be nicely treated now back over hurdles.

SELECTION: PLASSEY HOUSE

Next best: Uncle Gerhard

4.00 BBA Ireland Ltd Opera Hat (Mares) Chase (Listed) 2m

With no Mount Ida declared, this looks straightforward for last year’s winner Elimay. She was a disappointing third on her seasonal debut at Aintree but looked much more like best when second to Mount Ida at Fairyhouse, given the impressive progress of Gordon Elliott’s mare. Elimay is a smart mare too and her form to finish second to Colreevy in last year’s Mares Chase at Cheltenham is very strong. She will be a big player in that race again next month and can set herself up with a good showing today.

Court Maid has plenty to find with the selection, as she was well held in the same Fairyhouse race on New Year’s Day. She is probably more effective over a longer distance also, but she still has the class to pick up the pieces here.

SELECTION: ELIMAY

Next best: Court Maid

4.30 Congratulations to Naas GAA on an Incredible Year Hunters Chase 3m 170y

Billaway should return to winning ways on this his second start of the season. He was well held by Winged Leader last month at Thurles but he often needs his first start of the season and he showed at both Cheltenham and Punchestown, where he was just edged out of both those festival’s hunter chase races, that he is one of the top operators in this sphere. First-time cheekpieces may also help him.

Ask D’Man has been in good form in point-to-points this term and he won his maiden hunter chase over two and a half miles at Clonmel earlier last month. The step up to three miles may suit him more now and he could prove best of the rest.

SELECTION: BILLAWAY

Next best: Ask D’man

5.00 Jordan’s Centra Supporting Kill GAA (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 1m 7f 131y

Not much to go on here but there are a couple of well respected trainers and owners involved and the market should also prove an informative guide. Trust Me Nate represents Gordon Elliott so deserves due respect on his debut but the interestingly named Scholes gets the vote for Man United fans Emmet and Patrick Mullins. The trainer is having another good season and has a very healthy 31% strike rate in bumpers over the past five terms.

El Capitaine is an interesting newcomer for owner Chris Jones, as is Roman Bull, whose owner Mrs Emma Kennedy has had notable success with flat fillies Raven’s Cry and Foxtrot Liv.

SELECTION: SCHOLES

Next best: Trust Me Nate