12.10 Molony Cup Handicap Chase 3m 1f

Malinas Glory won a low-class contest here last month, but did it in the style of one who could well follow up in similar company. If returning in the same form, the Arthur O’Grady-trained performer should be bang there again off 6lb higher, with the longer trip not looking an obvious negative. It seems a real plus that he’s proven on good ground, given the likely conditions on offer this weekend.

Brandt couldn’t capitalise on a lower hurdles mark last time, but was set to collect at Sligo on his previous chasing start when unseating at the last. He’s up 5lb for that unfortunate spill, but ought to be on the premises once more, if back to his best form.

SELECTION: MALINAS GLORY

Next best: Brandt

12.45 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase 2m 5f

He lacks a recent run, but the fact Prince Zaltar has been fitted with cheekpieces for his first start in 378 days could be interpreted as connections wanting to maximise a potential winning chance, as opposed to him coming here to blow away the cobwebs with another day in mind. When factoring in the 4lb that Tiernan Power-Roche can claim here, he runs off just 9st 13lb and is racing from 18lb lower than the mark from which he finished second in an Aintree handicap hurdle when last seen. Runner-up on one of only two starts he’s had over fences, he lacks experience in this sphere, but looks worth taking a chance on.

Sequestered hasn’t hit the heights over fences that he reached as a hurdler, but is rated the same under both codes. If he’s sharp enough for his first handicap chase, he should have improvement to come as he learns with more runs over fences. Prairie Dancer wasn’t sighted on the flat the last twice, but the form of his previous outing, beating Watch The Weather in a chase at Down Royal, reads pretty well now.

SELECTION: PRINCE ZALTAR

Next best: Sequestered

1.20 Thank You For Supporting Us In 2024 Maiden Hurdle 2m

A weak maiden hurdle, in which Magic Day will be competitive if stepping forward from her rules debut when fourth in a mares’ maiden hurdle at the Navan Racing Festival. The second and fifth from that occasion finished third and fourth behind Baby Kate and Karoline Banbou at Naas on Monday, albeit the Navan winner, Cast A Spell, hasn’t set the world alight since. This sister to the stable’s blacktype performer Magic Daze is open to progress.

Bayrann is more exposed, but is taking his racing well, won’t be found wanting for experience and showed up well at Punchestown last time when third to You Oughta Know. He’ll be in the mix again if backing up that effort. His form from last month ties in with Gordon Elliott’s Tumuch, one who needs to leave behind his last showing, but did cost £335,000 out of a point-to-point.

SELECTION: MAGIC DAY

Next best: Bayrann

1.55 Billy Harney Memorial Irish EBF Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2m

This looks trappy and the return to decent ground could give Royal Hollow an edge. It’s a slight concern that she’s been on the go for quite some time, but the track, trip and ground will be right up her street and she brings plenty of hurdling experience to the table.

Sansrisk finished three and a half lengths in front of her in a Grade 3 at Down Royal, but was well-beaten since at Newbury and is 7lb worse off now with the selection.

Plenty of these will be ridden to try to fish for blacktype and that makes the race a little risky from an each-way perspective. Dream On Baby is one who popped up at a big price here last time over two miles and seven furlongs for Emmet Mullins, and the Walk In The Park four-year-old remains a bit of an unknown quantity. Beauforts Storm looked in excellent shape when winning a weak mares’ maiden hurdle here last time.

SELECTION: ROYAL HOLLOW

Next best: Dream On Baby

2.30 Wishing Everyone A Safe & Happy Christmas Handicap Hurdle 2m

A competitive affair, in which the in-form Wee Charlie could provide the answer for Ger O’Leary. A winner off marks of 98 and 106 in back-to-back starts at Galway, he came up just shorter on slower ground back at the same venue when chasing a hat-trick off 120. He’s been nudged up another 3lb, but Aidan Kelly’s 5lb claim will be a benefit to him and decent ground isn’t a big concern (his last two wins were on ground described by Timeform as good to soft).

For all that easy recent course winner Unklipped got hit with a 10lb hike for that first success of the year, she remains a dangerous candidate at the right end of the weights. These conditions suit her well. It wouldn’t be a shock if Walhaan, running extremely consistently on the all-weather at Dundalk, threatened to get involved at a decent each-way price, now dropping in grade over hurdles. Jeaniemacaroney adds another layer of depth to this.

SELECTION: WEE CHARLIE

Next best: Unklipped

3.05 Horse & Jockey Hotel Rated Novice Hurdle 2m 7f

Brave Fortune’s strike rate of one win from eight starts under rules isn’t the most inspiring, but he did catch the eye when staying on into a never-dangerous third last time at Fairyhouse. That was over an extended two and a half miles, so it’s possible going back up to this longer trip could help bring out further improvement.

Cases could be made for several of these and Sequoiaspirit deserves a positive mention after plundering a decent handicap at the Navan Racing Festival last time. He’s been racing over hurdles since April 2021 (this will be his 20th start over flights) and that is huge experience to bring back to novice company.

SELECTION: BRAVE FORTUNE

Next best: Sequoiaspirit

3.40 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race 2m

Blue Velvet was set to collect on her sole point-to-point start at Borris House in April before unseating at the final fence. While it remains to be seen how strong that race was, the Blue Bresil filly has since changed hands for €170,000 from Rob James to Willie Mullins and Gigginstown House Stud. The ground was described as good on the day she ran between the flags, which gives some encouragement with a view to today’s conditions.

Grainne A Chroi’s experience will stand her in good stead and she can be in the money once more, while Derryville has shown promise in two bumpers for Sam Curling and had been off for 191 days before her last start at Limerick when second.

SELECTION: BLUE VELVET

Next best: Derryville