12.45 Race Displays Rated Novice Hurdle 2m

This looks a nice match up between the top two: Better Days Ahead and Asian Master, representing the yards of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins. The former is probably the better horse, but he has to give away 8lb (15 when you include the latter’s rider’s 7lb claim) and is stepping down in trip, having previously won over two miles and seven furlongs.

That could do for him here against Asian Master, whose win at Clonmel was franked by his stablemate runner-up Jimmy Du Seuil recently. His rider Tom Costello is inexperienced but he got the better of Paul Townend in that driving finish, so it seams unlikely that he will be the difference between victory and defeat.

The other three have plenty to do but Paul Nolan’s Release The Beast is probably a lot better than he showed previously when well held by Waterford Whispers. He won his maiden hurdle on debut at Galway previously and might be able to get back on track with a good run here.

SELECTION: ASIAN MASTER

Next best: Better Days Ahead

1.20 QuinnBet Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

My Trump Card was a little bit disappointing when beaten by I Will Be Baie at Fairyhouse but he may be able to get off the mark now. Gordon Elliott’s gelding caught the eye a couple of times in bumpers and in what was his second start over hurdles, he could have jumped better, but may well have just bumped into a smart one on the day and the pair of them pulled near 40 lengths clear. With that experience banked, he should improve.

Killaney King looks a big danger off the back of his second to Blizzard Of Oz at Punchestown. He showed clear signs of greeness there when jumping out to his left at the last, before he was carried right by the winner. He has the scope for both experience and fitness, so expect a better effort now.

SELECTION: MY TRUMP CARD

Next best: Killaney King

1.55 Navan Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 2m 4f

Harvard Guy and Lord Erskine renew rivalry from their Tara Handicap Hurdle meeting, where they finished first and second.

That contest looked a little stronger than this so it is easy to see the pair of them going close again, however a new contender is Catch The Beast, who bolted up at Punchestown on his previous start. Eddie Cawley’s gelding was clearly well treated off a mark of 105 and duly made mincemeat of that assessment, and while he is 17lb higher now, he is lightly enough raced to suggest there could be more to come.

Harvard Guy is 9lb wrong with Lord Erskine now, and the latter still appeals as a well treated horse off his current rating. He showed good form on the flat before coming back over hurdles and he loves it around Navan. Fortunedefortunata is another to note, with this step up in trip perhaps a key to unlocking further improvement.

SELECTION: CATCH THE BEAST

Next best: Lord Erskine

2.30 Ardmulchan Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

Eddie Cawley may have the answer to this contest too, with Chosen Diamond potentially well treated now back over hurdles. All three of his runs this term have come over fences where most notably he won at Naas on his return to action. He finished fourth to Clonmeen over three miles at Punchestown for his latest start but this was a probably a decent effort, given his previous tries over the distance were poor. He returns to hurdles now where his mark is 12lb lower, and that makes him hard to ignore now.

Butty O’Brien returns to the scene of his course win two starts back, where he got the better of several rivals in a driving finish over just a furlong short of today’s distance. He has since run well in defeat when fifth to American Money at Naas, showing that the 4lb rise in the weights isn’t overly harsh, and he should go well again.

SELECTION: CHOSEN DIAMOND

Next best: Butty O’Brien

3.05 Jack Kiernans 55 Years Beginners Chase 3m

Senior Chief gets a tentative vote in a trappy contest. Henry de Bromhead’s gelding ran with credit on his chase debut at Punchestown where he was held by Gaelic Warrior, but finished in among good stock, like Inothewayurthinkin who was a seven-length third to Gaelic Warrior again in the Grade 1 Faugheen on his next start. He should come on for that effort and is returning to a track he won at last season.

It’s a big day for Sandor Clegane, whose connections likely had big hopes at the beginning of the season. The Albert Bartlett third was well held by Favori Du Champdou at Punchestown but that is still strong form in the context of this race and he has been given plenty of time since. My Immortal strikes as one who could do better now up at this trip - he showed good improvement from his debut effort over fences when third to Nick Rockett at Fairyhouse.

SELECTION: SENIOR CHIEF

Next best: Sandor Clegane

3.43 Gormanlough Handicap Chase 3m

A tentative vote goes to Hutchie in this lowly three-mile handicap chase. Stephen Carey’s gelding ran pretty well when fifth behind Morricone over a likely inadequate two-mile trip earlier this week at Punchestown.

He should come on for that effort, which was his first in 95 days, and may well be aided by running over today’s trip. He only has four starts to his name over fences, and ran notably well when second to Read To Return earlier in the season at Killarney.

Eagle Terrace and Rochestown are both feared as last-time-out winners, with slight preference for the latter. Brendan Walsh’s gelding was a good 11-length winner at Tramore, improving off the back of his effort to finish second at the track on seasonal debut. He is 8lb higher now but comes into this in solid form and has the scope to improve on just his sixth start over fences.

SELECTION: HUTCHIE

Next best: Rochestown

4.15 Racing Again February 11 INH Flat Race 2m

Take your pick between a couple of seemingly expensive point-to-point recruits for each of the top yards. Trim Castle won comfortably at Castletown-Geoghegan and now represents Gigginstown House Stud and Gordon Elliott. He gets the nod over C’est Ta Chance, who represents Willie Mullins and Isaac Souede/Simon Munir, who combined to win this race last season with It’s For Me.

SELECTION: TRIM CASTLE

Next best: C’est Ta Chance