2.10 Naas Racecourse Business Club Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 109yds

A bad mistake at the final flight here last time stripped By Your Side of all momentum in a handicap hurdle against his elders, dropping away to third close home. However, he was coming with a serious challenge on that occasion and his experience of six starts over hurdles - including two appearances in senior handicap company - should stand him in excellent stead for a crack at this four-year-old-only contest.

Topweight Libby is no slouch and has kept decent company over hurdles for Joseph O’Brien. The application of cheekpieces for the first time should do her no harm and she appears versatile in terms of the ground. Pont Audemer was a different proposition last time when bolting up at Limerick on his second handicap hurdle start. A 16lb hike in the weights may not be enough to stop him from being competitive here but he does need to progress again.

SELECTION: BY YOUR SIDE

Next best: Libby

2.40 Barberstown Castle Novice Handicap Chase (Grade B) 2m 4f

A wide-open affair in which an each-way chance is taken on It Could Be You off bottom-weight for Tom and Danny Mullins. It’s possible that tackling this trip on yielding ground could suit the selection well, having dropped away over three miles and one furlong at Punchestown last time. With 10 chase runs under his girth, he brings plenty of experience to the table for a novice event.

Barnacullia posted a smashing effort when runner-up to Final Orders on his latest start at the Dublin Racing Festival but this may not be his optimum trip. Ground conditions will give him a chance of staying Sunday’s distance but he’s probably at his best over closer to two miles. Limerick Lace has not been missed by the handicapper with an opening mark of 135 over fences. She is the classiest runner in the line-up but shouldering top weight is not an easy task for the six-year-old mare.

SELECTION: IT COULD BE YOU

Next best: Barnacullia

3.10 Newlands Chase (Grade 3) 2m

On ratings, this looks an exceptional opportunity for the talented Coeur Sublime to record his second career success over fences, but he may not be the ideal candidate to have immense faith in at odds-on. An official mark of 155 leaves him 11lb clear of his nearest rival on the figures, Rebel Gold, but the Henry de Bromhead-trained hotpot hasn’t always convinced in terms of his finishing efforts.

There are some stronger stayers in the line-up here and 10-year-old Rebel Gold gets a tentative nod over his optimum trip for Denis O’Regan and Pat Foley. A ready winner of the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse two starts ago, he arrives here in fine form and wasn’t disgraced despite being unable to cope with giving weight to all rivals in a Dublin Racing Festival handicap chase last time when fifth. He can give Coeur Sublime something to think about.

SELECTION: REBEL GOLD

Next best: Coeur Sublime

3.40 Johnstown Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 1m 7f 109yds

Just six runners tackle this novice event but it has the makings of an intriguing affair. Corbetts Cross, a leading player for next month’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham over three miles, is curiously dropped drastically in trip from a handicap hurdle victory over a mile further at Fairyhouse last time. His bumper success came over two miles and three furlongs and his maiden hurdle strike was at two miles and five furlongs, so this could be too sharp an assignment for him.

Lily Du Berlais, winner of the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival last season, is set a demanding assignment for her first start over hurdles and Jackpot De Choisel, held in decent regard by connections, is difficult to assess after a wide-margin win at Ayr earlier this month. The answer could be the Gordon Elliott-trained Found A Fifty, who created an excellent impression when landing a 25-runner maiden hurdle by nine and a half lengths at Fairyhouse last month. He is light on experience but has the makings of a classy operator.

SELECTION: FOUND A FIFTY

Next best: Corbetts Cross

4.10 Expert Air Farewell Antoinette Maiden Hurdle 1m 7f 109yds

Holes can probably be picked in the form of some of the leading stable’s representatives here, so it could be worth siding with the Tony Martin-trained Innatendue, who wasn’t disgraced when seventh in a 22-runner mares’ handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival three weeks ago. Her form in maiden hurdles looks to have a solid enough look to it, and she could appreciate reverting to calmer waters than last time.

The Mediator, absent since October, isn’t one of Gordon Elliott’s stable stars but may not be far away if sharp enough on his return, while Thecompanysergeant, trained by Denis Hogan, is worth keeping an eye on ahead of his hurdles bow. He ran creditably behind Champion Bumper hope Encanto Bruno when last seen finishing third at Cheltenham in October.

SELECTION: INNATENDUE

Next best: The Mediator

4.40 Spring Festival Trials At Naas Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 109yds

Plenty hold chances in this 19-runner affair but Hey Johnny makes plenty of appeal if able to replicate his latest fine fifth behind Gaelic Warrior at the Dublin Racing Festival. Perhaps he is more effective off a low weight in better company than this but the half-brother to Sir Gerhard arrives here in top form.

Provided he’s none the worse for being brought down when still travelling well last time at Navan, Spirit Of Legend shouldn’t be far away for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. Blanketontheground, now tried in cheekpieces for the first time, is capable of running well at a likely each-way price.

SELECTION: HEY JOHNNY

Next best: Spirit Of Legend

5.10 Nursery Of Champions Bumper 1m 7f 109yds

The roll of honour for this race over the past decade includes quality performers such as Outlander, Killultagh Vic, Carefully Selected and Gerri Colombe so we could be set to see a classy youngster make their presence felt. Gordon Elliott, who seeks a fourth straight success in this prize, saddles two live contenders.

Caldwell Potter, a brother to the stable’s Mighty Potter, impressed when winning at Punchestown in November before disappointing at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival so needs to bounce back. Stellar Story also arrives here on the back of a win at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day and looks open to improvement. However, preference is for the Willie Mullins-trained Ile Atlantique, who impressed at Leopardstown over the festive period and has seen his form boosted by runner-up Feronily (subsequently third at the Dublin Racing Festival) and third-placed No Time To Wait (bolted up on next start at Down Royal).

SELECTION: ILE ATLANTIQUE

Next best: Caldwell Potter