12.25 Sky Bet Build A Bet

Beginners Chase 2m 6f 148yds

After a fine run to finish fifth in the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse last month, Brucejack looks good enough to win a beginners’ chase of this nature (restricted to horses rated 110 or less over hurdles). He’s run well here twice before and the experience of 10 previous starts over fences ought to stand him in good stead for this, albeit he may prefer a little further to be seen at his best.

Shantou Princess was an easy winner over hurdles here last month, raised 16lb to 110 over flights, so it will be fascinating to see how the former point-to-point winner fares on her chasing bow under rules. On Lovers Walk was consistent enough without winning over hurdles last season, and he was only beaten a head in a similar event to this over fences at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day. He looks a player if as good over a couple of furlongs further here.

SELECTION: BRUCEJACK

Next best: Shantou Princess

12.55 Sky Bet, For The Fans Novice Chase (Grade 3)

2m 3f 146yds

After a pleasing start to life over fences at Naas last month, Lecky Watson gets the nod to enhance his record to two wins from as many starts as a chaser. He mixed it with the top staying novice hurdlers around last season, even if slightly below winning at Grade 1 level over the smaller obstacles, and he looks to have taken to this discipline well.

Search For Glory’s recent third in the Grade 1 Faugheen Novice Chase was a creditable showing, beaten four and a half lengths by Impaire Et Passe, and he has a chasing experience edge over Lecky Watson. This trip does look as short as he wants to go, however. Down Memory Lane and Farren Glory also have graded experience over fences and now try a new trip.

SELECTION: LECKY WATSON

Next best: Search For Glory

1.25 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase 2m 3f 146yds

It’s naturally hard to have immense confidence in a horse with a 0-19 record, but Papa Barns gets a tentative nod to finally open his account after a solid start to life over fences at Naas last time. He had no answer to an easy winner but was clear of the third and stepping up in trip from two miles looks a positive. The only time he finished second over hurdles also came at this track.

Toon Town is an interesting stable switcher to Gavin Cromwell, having won off 4lb lower over hurdles last May for his previous stable. Mahlers Cove has threatened to win one of these and isn’t out of it if bouncing back to his best, while Midweek Voices isn’t exposed as a handicap chaser and could be involved.

SELECTION: PAPA BARNS

Next best: Toon Town

1.55 Sky Bet Extra Places Every Day Amateur National (Q.R.) Handicap Chase 2m 6f 148yds

An already long absence for Prince Zaltar was made even longer when he missed a pre-Christmas option at Thurles due to unsuitable ground and when last weekend’s Cork fixture was abandoned, but he remains an intriguing player in a race like this off a mark of 103. The bottom weight is racing from 18lb lower than the mark from which he finished second in an Aintree handicap hurdle when last seen in December 2023. Runner-up on one of only two starts he’s had over fences, he lacks experience in this sphere but could be worth taking a chance on.

Cases can be made for several of these. Daily Present showed up well when third in the Porterstown and it will be worth seeing how Brucejack (Porterstown fifth) runs in the opening race on this card to possibly help gauge the form. Gringo d’Aubrelle was a well-held second to Dysart Dynamo in the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle on this card back in 2022 (previously third in the Grade 1 Challow behind Stage Star) so he comes into the reckoning on that basis with a chasing mark of 116. However, he mustn’t have been easy to train in the interim and there have been no fireworks in his three runs over fences so far. Salmanino fired a warning shot when second last time and needs respecting, while Nine Graces bumped into a well-handicapped winner at Fairyhouse a month ago and she’s previously won around here.

SELECTION: PRINCE ZALTAR

Next best: Nine Graces

2.25 Sky Bet Club Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 157yds

Salvator Mundi has been a talking horse ever since finishing second to Sir Gino on his hurdling bow at Auteuil in April 2023 and will be a short-priced favourite to strike here for Willie Mullins in a race the champion trainer has previously won with the likes of Mikael D’Haguenet, Vautour, Douvan, Min, Impaire Et Passe and Mystical Power. Beaten 17 lengths by Majborough when thrown into the deep end for his stable debut sixth in the Triumph Hurdle, he hosed up by 62 lengths when dropped massively in class at Tipperary in May. Much more will be learned about him in this grade, though he’s already no bigger than 6/1 as favourite for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle. It is a slight query, however, that connections feel the need to refit a tongue-tie on him.

Stablemate Kel Histoire created a favourable impression in a maiden hurdle that didn’t appear to be overly deep at Cork last month, though the form has yet to be seriously tested. It’s possible that Sky Lord possible achieved more when winning at the same track with a bit of swagger for Henry de Bromhead, even though it must be said the form has taken a couple of knocks. Relieved Of Duties, another Cork maiden hurdle winner, perhaps doesn’t have the same attractive profile given he was turned over on his first two starts of the season.

SELECTION: SALVATOR MUNDI

Next best: Sky Lord

2.55 Sky Bet Acca Freeze Maiden Hurdle 2m 157yds

It will be interesting to watch how Sky Lord fares out in the Moscow Flyer 30 minutes earlier when it comes to weighing up the credentials of Kappa Jy Pyke, who finished four and a half lengths behind that rival when second in a 20-runner maiden hurdle at Cork five weeks ago. The French AQPS bumper winner was off for more than 400 days prior to that stable debut for Willie Mullins and has every chance of building on that.

Brilliant bumper campaigner A Dream To Share finished three quarters of a length and a head behind Don’tstopthemusic in a Fairyhouse maiden hurdle six weeks ago when the pair filled third and fifth behind Ballygunner Castle. Both can get sharper with their jumping but certainly have the ability to win winter maiden hurdles. Don’tstopthemusic, a year older than the 2023 Champion Bumper winner, may be the readier to go close in a race like this.

SELECTION: KAPPA JY PYKE

Next best: Don’tstopthemusic

3.25 Albert Bartlett Triple Crown Series Qualifier Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 67yds

Despite concerns over a complete no-show when extremely well backed (sent off 5/2 favourite) for a €45,000 handicap hurdle at the Navan Racing Festival last time, Londonofficecallin is given another chance to prove that he is well handicapped off a mark of 102 over hurdles. He looked an improved performer on the flat in the period before he returned to hurdles last time, winning in back-to-back starts at Down Royal and Thurles, and he remains at the right end of the weights off 10st 8lb here.

Fellow Gavin Cromwell-trained contender Ask Anything hasn’t had an ideal start to the season, falling on his return at Galway, making a race-ending error at the first in the Troytown and finishing down the field over hurdles here. He’s been given seven weeks to freshen up and remains of interest off a mark of 116 when all falls right. Bright Legend knocked on the door at Limerick over Christmas, while Beggars Rock is up 10lb for an easy win at the same venue during the festive period and may yet have more to come.

SELECTION: LONDONOFFICECALLIN

Next best: Beggars Rock