1.00 Clinton Higgins Chartered Accountants Novice Handicap Chase 2m 4f

A tricky novice handicap chase to kick off proceedings and a chance is taken on Canal End improving for the step back up in trip, having gained experience over shorter to begin his chasing career. Sent off the 11/2 favourite for a competitive Dublin Racing Festival handicap hurdle over an extended three miles around this time last year (beaten 11 lengths in seventh of 22 runners), he’s rated 6lb lower over fences and has threatened in the past to operate above his current mark of 119.

Answer To Kayf, not beaten far when fourth in last year’s Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham, is certainly of interest off a mark of 130, though he does have top-weight to shoulder and perhaps connections will have one eye on him peaking back at Prestbury Park for a handicap chase. Individualiste is chasing the hat-trick and ought to be bang there once more despite a 10lb rise for beating more exposed rivals at Navan last month. Miss Pronunciation is worth keeping an eye on after running respectably here three weeks ago, though jockey bookings indicate Canal End is the pick of the J.P. McManus trio and perhaps more chasing experience will be a help to her.

SELECTION: CANAL END

Next best: Answer To Kayf

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Maiden Hurdle 2m

Charlus, a hurdles debutant by Churchill, is of obvious appeal on debut for Willie Mullins. He ran to Timeform ratings of 94 and 96 on his last two starts on the flat, changed hands for €315,000 during the summer and the listed runner-up has form on testing ground.

Holy See, who posted a Timeform rating of 92 on the flat in France but doesn’t look to have as strong a flat profile as Charlus, arrives here with a hurdling experience edge over that rival. Bill Durkan’s Night Of Thunder gelding (bought for 45,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale) ran well on his first start over obstacles when fourth at 25/1 in a Limerick Christmas Festival maiden hurdle. The runner-up from that race, Bacchanalian, has won since.

SELECTION: CHARLUS

Next best: Holy See

2.00 Naas Racecourse Business Club Limestone Lad Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

Such was the stylish nature of what he delivered when winning on his Irish introduction at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, Grade 3 scorer Anzadam is very tough to oppose for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. The champion trainer described that performance as “awesome” and that the unexposed French recruit looked “something special”. Joe and Marie Donnelly’s youngster enters this weekend a general 10/1 shot for the Champion Hurdle.

Beacon Edge will probably lack the pace for the minimum trip, given he was so effective over three miles at Wetherby earlier this season, but the 11-year-old gets the nod to chase the selection home. Laafi completes the three-runner field and the 95-rated flat performer is clearly useful in his own right. The form of his Limerick maiden hurdle win was let down by Kainsbourg at Navan last weekend and this is a big step up against a horse of Anzadam’s potential, for all that he’ll be better suited to this trip than Beacon Edge in terms of the battle for second.

SELECTION: ANZADAM

Next best: Beacon Edge

2.30 Finlay Ford At Naas Novice Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f

Dancing City is currently third-favourite for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival (no bigger than 7/1) and it would be disappointing if he couldn’t deliver the goods given his triple Grade 1-winning exploits over hurdles last season and the smart chasing introduction he made at Punchestown last month. He stays well and appears versatile in terms of ground, though this will be more of a test than he faced last time.

Bioluminescence looks an effective staying chaser in the making and took advantage of a good opportunity decisively at Limerick over Christmas. It’s far from ideal that the mare is having to concede weight to male Grade 1 winners, however, due to her Grade 2 victory last time. Dee Capo’s Leopardstown Christmas Festival-winning form was franked at Gowran on Thursday, though he looks an uncertain stayer at this longer trip. While not disgraced in fourth (beaten 15 and a half lengths by Impaire Et Passe), Good Land needs to show better than he did at Limerick last time and this trip is the furthest he’s ever tried.

SELECTION: DANCING CITY

Next best: Bioluminescence

3.00 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle 2m 2f 150yds

Kalix Delabarriere is held in high regard by top connections, impressed on his bumper bow at Ballinrobe (beating a subsequent Cheltenham listed bumper winner) and gets the nod to bounce back from defeat on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas. In the pre-race comments on his website heading into that 24-length fourth to classy stablemate Kaid d’Authie, Willie Mullins noted that Kalix Delabarriere “jumps well but experience might beat him today. However, we have always thought he is top drawer and is one that can be followed for the rest of the season.” His jumping does need to sharpen up from that showing, but he is a talented type.

Krak finished 14 lengths ahead of the selection at Leopardstown and isn’t discounted. However, taking that form to be a literal representation of Kalix Delabarriere’s ability could be foolish. A Dream To Share has had a stop-start run ever since his brilliant bumper campaign that saw him win at the Dublin Racing Festival, Cheltenham Festival and Punchestown Festival in 2023. His jumping can also improve on the basis of what he showed when a close-up fifth to Ballygunner Castle in a maiden hurdle at the Fairyhouse Winter Festival.

SELECTION: KALIX DELABARRIERE

Next best: A Dream To Share

3.30 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series At Punchestown Festival 2025 Qualifier Handicap Hurdle 2m 2f 150yds

An 8lb rise was probably fair enough for what One Big Boum achieved when winning a Cork handicap hurdle last month, showing a fine attitude in the process and jumping boldly, even if a little out to his right. He might still have improvement to come given he’s not overly exposed, especially in handicap company. Soft ground also looks ideal for him.

This does look a deeper race than he faced last time, however, and Must Go Now is a feared opponent after a convincing handicap hurdle win at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. He could still be ahead of the assessor off a new mark of 109 despite a 10lb rise. Top-weight Cave Court is no back number and does have form on testing ground, though perhaps he’d prefer the rain to stay away given the improvement he found through the summer on decent surfaces. Interchangeable won a low-key maiden hurdle last time and further progression is required now, for all that he isn’t the most exposed of these.

SELECTION: ONE BIG BOUM

Next best: Must Go Now

4.05 BetVictor’s 60 Euro New Customer Offer (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 2f 150yds

The experience of American Jukebox ought to stand to him and he gets a tentative nod to make it third time lucky in bumper company. The £100,000 point-to-point recruit showed improvement from his first run under rules to just be touched off at Leopardstown over Christmas, for all that it’s hard to know if that was as strong a race as can typically be expected for that venue during the festive period. He’s got a useful pedigree as a half-brother to American Mike.

Adiemus is a fascinating newcomer for Willie and Patrick Mullins. He was a €50,000 store purchase by Guiliani, a German Group 1 winner over 10 furlongs who had plenty of strong mile form and hails from the family of Getaway. This five-year-old is out of a nicely-bred mare who won over fences and hurdles (up to two miles and two furlongs). It’s not exactly a positive that Champagne Jury wears a tongue-tie on his rules debut but he did run well between the flags and is in top hands with Gavin Cromwell.

SELECTION: AMERICAN JUKEBOX

Next best: Adiemus