1.40 Ladbrokes ‘We Play Together’ Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m
Arctic Fly has shown a good standard in her three bumpers, certainly in the context of this race, so she can get off the mark at the first time of asking for Willie Mullins. The daughter of Walk In The Park was last seen finishing sixth in the Grade 3 mares’ bumper won by stablemate Junta Marvel at the Punchestown Festival.
Bobbisilver might give her most to do. A Tyrella point-to-point winner earlier in the year, she improved from her hurdles/track debut at Cork to finish fourth to Ring O Roses at Ballinrobe. She can step forward again.
SELECTION: ARCTIC FLY
Next best: Bobbisilver
2.15 Ladbrokes Beginners Chase 3m
Salvador Ziggy has to give away chasing experience but he was the best of these over hurdles and may be able to make his class count on his fencing debut. Gordon Elliott’s seven-year-old was pulled up when last seen in a Punchestown Grade 1 but he finished an excellent second to Good Time Jonny in the Pertemps Final prior to that run on ground that was probably softer than ideal. Tomorrow’s surface should suit him well.
Hubrisko and Caesar Rock have shown up well in their chase runs so far and marginal preference goes to the latter, a half-brother to Becher Chase winner Highland Lodge and who wasn’t beaten far by Vina Ardanza and Saldier on his penultimate start.
SELECTION: SALVADOR ZIGGY
Next best: Caesar Rock
2.50 Ladbrokes Handicap Chase 2m 5f
Archies Charm missed out on the Mayo National as a reserve but may be able to gain compensation in this smaller. Brian Hamilton’s gelding has lots of nice form over fences, most notably finishing second to Seddon over this distance at Leopardstown. His latest effort to finish fifth in the Ulster National was another good run and coming back to this trip should suit him.
Darver Star is a class act on his day and should be more competitive than he was on his previous start, where the three-mile trip possibly stretched him. He has a decent record at Punchestown. Irascible is another who may find this drop in trip to his liking and he remains potentially well handicapped over fences, racing off a 7lb lower mark than his hurdles assessment.
SELECTION: ARCHIES CHARM
Next best: Darver Star
3.25 Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 130y
Plenty of these come into this race off the back of good runs so a tentative vote goes to Nasee. Shark Hanlon’s eight-year-old finished a good second to the in-form Reflectionist over this course and distance last month, when he was coming off a 307-day break. Facing similar ground conditions today, there is a reasonable chance he can step forward again.
Serpolette is another to consider. She was second to Movie King last weekend at Down Royal, which was her first show of good form since last September. She is now 1lb below her previous winning mark.
SELECTION: NASEE
Next best: Serpolette
4.00 Ladbrokes Fanzone ‘Your Team Your Game’ Ladies Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f 130y
Rathnaleen Kal can continue her good run for Eoin McCarthy. The six-year-old mare battled well to hold off Reflectionist, twice a winner since, at Clonmel and made a mistake at a crucial stage when finishing third to I Don’t Get It at Limerick. She remains a lightly-raced mare with scope to progress again.
Mica Malpic progressed nicely for Enda Bolger last summer and his most recent start, a third to Flash De Touzaine at Galway, looks strong form in the context of this race. He is having his first start of the season so may well need it fitness wise.
SELECTION: RATHNALEEN KAL
Next best: Mica Malpic
4.30 Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Maiden Hurdle 2m 7f 140y
Easy Fella can get off the mark for Ray Cody. The six-year-old gelding gave the Willie Mullins-trained What Path a good battle at Tipperary on his previous run and has now improved on each of his last three starts. He also is a proven performer with this sort of test and has a decent run at Punchestown to his name, having finished second to Connors Cross here in February.
Naruto is an obvious danger as a Willie Mullins-trained bumper winner now embarking on his hurdles career while this greater test of stamina should suit Gordon Elliott’s Ebeneezer Scrooge.
SELECTION: EASY FELLA
Next best: Ebeneezer Scrooge
5.00 Ladbrokes Play ‘1-2 Free’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 140y
Henry de Bromhead’s Miss Tempo could be hard to beat on her hat-trick bid. She picked up really well to come home best of all in a two-mile-three-furlong Naas handicap hurdle in March but looked even more impressive when upped to an extended three miles at Tipperary last month. Facing similar conditions, she can go in again.
Say It Ain’t So is attractively handicapped back over hurdles after a good win over fences at Ballinrobe but he is coming up in trip markedly and has that question to answer. Hanoi Jane might be better equipped over a comfortable win on her previous start which came over two miles three furlongs at this course.
SELECTION: MISS TEMPO
Next best: Hanoi Jane
5.30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race 2m
Four Clean Aces can make it two out of two for Willie and Patrick Mullins. The daughter of Saint Des Saints out of the useful mare Queen Alphabet had to battle hard to see off World Of Fortunes at Tipperary in April, but that horse has won well since to give the form a better look.
Final Decision could give her most to do. She turned over the Mullins-trained River Tara to win her bumper in Kilbeggan in April and seems to be going in the right direction.
SELECTION: FOUR CLEAN ACES
Next best: Final Decision