1.07 Bar One Racing Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f
It might be worth taking a chance on St Cuthbert’s Cave. Gordon Elliott’s six-year-old was pulled up last time, but suffered a cut and finished lame, so he is easily excused. Prior to that, he ran a very respectable third to An Tobar and Champagne Admiral at Fairyhouse. That form puts him in with a shout here and having been given plenty of time to recover from his mishap at Clonmel, he should give a much better account of himself now.
Olympic Man represents Willie Mullins and is naturally respected, but he pulled up few trees on his hurdles starts thus far and this will be his first run since early October. Whale Harbour makes a little more appeal. He was well held by Jade De Grugy at Leopardstown, but has been given time since that run to further develop and can progress again here.
SELECTION: ST CUTHBERT’S CAVE
Next best: Whale Harbour
1.42 Bar One Racing Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)
Mirazur West can win for a second time over hurdles. Well hyped up at the beginning of the season, the chat cooled on him after he was beaten by King Of Kingsfield in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown, but that is very good form and he has since won very smoothly at Naas. Interestingly, he wears a first time hood, which may aid him, but in any case, the full-brother to Ferny Hollow is open to further improvement and should win.
He will have concede weight to his stablemate Fun Fun Fun who got back on track when scoring at Exeter last time. She may is a useful sort, but this looks a step up for her. Both Helvic Dream and Undeniable Alibi make some appeal coming into this off maiden hurdle wins, with slight preference for the former, who has a lofty flat rating and may be getting the hang of things over hurdles now.
SELECTION: MIRAZUR WEST
Next best: Helvic Dream
2.17 Bar One Racing Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Div I) 1m 7f 116y
The consistent Ricky Bobby may be able to get his head in front. Tim Doyle’s gelding twice finished second, at Thurles and Cork, earlier in the season and his latest start, a fourth to Morricone at Punchestown, was a decent effort as well. He remains competitively handicapped and given he’s proven on the ground, he should go well again.
Both Cristiano Marealdo and Hillsdale make some appeal off the back of good runs at Naas this season. Slight preference is for Cristiano Marealdo, Philip Rothwell’s mare, who scored over today’s distance here in December and may bounce back from a mediocre effort here again last time.
SELECTION: RICKY BOBBY
Next best: Cristiano Marealdo
2.52 Bar One Racing Price Boosts Handicap Hurdle (Div II) 1m 7f 116y
The Big Cloud can back up a couple of very good efforts in defeat and get her head in front. Shane Crawley’s mare found only Kitsilano too good at Clonmel and progressed from that effort when a close third to Billy Lee Swagger at Punchestown, where she weas clear of the fourth horse home. She only has seven starts to her name and it seems like she has found her feet, so she looks dangerous now.
Quornofamonday is definetely a danger for Philip Dempsey. He disappointed at Punchestown lately, but was found to have a cut and prior to that he was just touched off in his previous two runs, notably when finding only Simply Shabra too good over this course and distance. That rival opposes again, but may not get the same leeway up front this time.
SELECTION: THE BIG CLOUD
Next best: Quornafamonday
3.27 Bar One Racing Mobile
Betting Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f
Petit King has got some notable hurdles form this term, and returning to the smaller obstacles, he can make his presence felt here for Eddie Cawley. The eight-year-old is closely matched with the progressive Morricone, beating that rival in December and finishing only a half length away from him last month. He was well held in a chase on his most recent start, but was having only his third start in that sphere and actually improved significantly on his opening two efforts. He handles soft ground well and looks handicapped to at least get involved at the business end.
Heliko Conti makes plenty of appeal too, especially given his form with Yeats Star who has since finished second at the Dublin Racing Festival and when he himself finished second to Music Of Tara at Leopardstown over Christmas. He was a little disappointing at this course on his most recent start, but could easily fare better now.
SELECTION: PETIT KING
Next best: Heliko Conti
4.02 Bar One Racing “Extra Places At Cheltenham” Directors Plate Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f
Tactical Move can make it two wins in three over fences. Willie Mullins’s 10-year-old was 1,158 days off the track prior to his comeback run in a maiden hurdle last season, but he won that contest well and has since proven a talented operator.
He was second to his well regarded stablemate Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse for his chase debut on New Year’s Day and improved from that outing when accounting for Saint Felicien and Spanish Harlem at Gowran in January – that pair going on to finish first and third in a beginners chase on their next starts.
He can account for Flanking Maneuver, for all that Noel Meade’s gelding deserves respect returning to an intermediate trip. He has recently run reasonably well at three miles, when fourth to Grangeclare West at Leopardstown over Christmas and most recently at two miles, when outspeeded by Blood Destiny and Spillane’s Tower at Navan.
SELECTION: TACTICAL MOVE
Next best: Flanking Maneuver
4.37 Bar One Racing Leinster National Handicap Chase 3m 174y
Macs Charm looks worth chancing here for Colm Murphy. The lightly-raced nine-year-old bounced back to his best form when only beaten eight lengths into fifth by Ain’t That A Shame in the Thyestes, leaving a couple of poor efforts behind him.
Last season, he looked a really progressive chaser, finishing second in a couple of beginners’ chases and then scoring a competitive contest at the Fairyhouse Easter Festival on his first start at three miles. He is just 6lbs higher than that win now and on just his seventh chase start, has the scope to improve further.
He is closely matched with Stormy Judge who finished just a short-head in front of him at Gowran and is respected again here, though he has more miles on the clock.
Espanito Bello has to be a player again off an 8lb higher mark than his win here last season, and he added to his excellent record at the track when third to Ferny Hollow over an inadequate trip of two miles on his most recent start. Hartur D’arc also makes some appeal on his second start for Gavin Cromwell. He won on his first start for that yard, indeed bolting up at Clonmel over two and a half miles, and that was just his third ever chase start. He has lots of scope to improve and the step up to this trip could also be in his favour.
SELECTION: MACS CHARM
Next best: Hartur D’arc
5.07 Bar One Racing Mares INH Flat Race 1m 7f 116y
Holly Brook can get off the mark here after a fine opening track effort when fifth to Fleur Au Fusil in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival. A Boherna point winner, she was only beaten 11 lengths at Leopardstown and should have learned plenty from the experience, while also displaying her potential in the process.
Sansrisk could give her most to do, dropping back into a bumper after a couple of very good efforts over hurdles. Philip Dempsey’s mare found only Fun Fun Fun too good on her hurdles debut at Thurles and then finished fifth to No Flies On Him in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown.
SELECTION: HOLLY BROOK
Next best: Sansrisk