5.30 Dunhill (Mares) Beginners Chase 1m 7f 100y
It is hard to see past Heia on her chase debut. Willie Mullins’ mare has a rating of 134 over hurdles and ran right up to that assessment when only beaten just under six lengths by Seddon in a valuable two-mile-three-furlong handicap at the Punchestown Festival. She was also fifth in a Galway Hurdle on good ground so this evening’s surface will be fine for her and she should have too much for her four rivals.
Of that quartet, Gordon Elliott’s Return To Base looks most likely to give her a race. She comes into this off a handicap hurdle win at Downpatrick (off a mark of 113) so is in good form, as is her trainer.
SELECTION: HEIA
Next best: Return To Base
6.00 Pickerdstown Handicap Chase 2m 5f 50y
Rule Of June can build on her good effort to finish third at Punchestown last week. Liam Casey’s mare ran well to finish just under eight lengths off Reflectionist in a 16-runner handicap hurdle. It was her first start in 72 days so she might tighten up for it, and she is already a course winner, with scope to improve further coming back over fences.
Bearwithmenow could go well. He had a longer break to contend with before his previous third run, a third to Positive Thinker in a three-mile handicap chase at Tipperary in April, and he may be able to build on that now in what looks a weaker contest.
SELECTION: RULE OF JUNE
Next best: Bearwithmenow
6.30 Visit West Waterford Maiden Hurdle 2m 175y
This looks a decent opportunity for The Folkes Tiara, who has a number of placed efforts over both fences and hurdles. His latest effort, a third to Dinoblue in a valuable Grade B handicap chase at the Punchestown Festival, was another good run in defeat, following on from his second to Final Orders at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival. He returns to hurdles now and markedly down in class.
Katou is of obvious interest on her hurdles debut for Willie Mullins. She finished third on her only start to date in a Thurles bumper.
SELECTION: THE FOLKES TIARA
Next best: Katou
7.00 Comeragh Wildlife Park Handicap Hurdle 2m 175y
Cracklinrose is taken in the hope she is fit enough on seasonal debut. Given her trainer, there is every reason she will be and based on three paced efforts last term, over both fences and hurdles, she has a nice opportunity in this contest. She has some course form, having finished third over fences here in August, and she remains lightly raced with scope to improve further now on just her 11th career start.
Depeche Mo is a threat after a career best performance to finish second to Corkbeg at Wexford last month. That was his first run in 100 days and he may be able to step forward now.
SELECTION: CRACKLINROSE
Next best: Depeche Mo
7.30 Copper Coast Maiden Hurdle 2m 5f 120y
Calazure can get off the mark. Noel Meade’s gelding improved from his hurdles debut at Thurles to finish fourth to Law Ella at Downpatrick in early April. That looked a much stronger heat to the one he faces here and his ability to get around Downpatrick’s tight track should also stand him in good stead for this test.
Ted Walsh’s Be Fierce is another coming into this off his best effort yet. He finished fourth to Macanogue over two miles at Kilbeggan earlier in the month. He may be able to step forward again now, with this rise in trip worth another go now that he has found some form.
SELECTION: CALAZURE
Next best: Be Fierce
8.00 Annestown Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 120y
Buttons And Bows caught the eye when fourth to Fruit Blossom on her previous run at Wexford. An early mistake knocked Pat Flynn’s mare back, but she got herself back into the race in the closing stages, staying on well to only be beaten eight and a half lengths.
That was her 25th start over hurdles but her first ever one at two and a half miles, and she looks well worth a go over today’s trip given the way she stayed on there.
Sovereign Duke is interesting as well. A recruit out of Henry Candy’s yard, he defied odds of 40/1 to go close to a win at Tipperary earlier this month on what was only his second start for Shark Hanlon. That came on decent ground, so today’s surface ought to suit him.
SELECTION: BUTTONS AND BOWS
Next best: Sovereign Duke
8.30 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race 2m 175y
Vadsa Queen has a couple of decent efforts to her name and can get off the mark at the third time of asking. Willie Mullins’ mare hasn’t been seen since this time last year but she had finished a good second to Lisnagar Fortune at the Punchestown Festival and then a close fifth at Ballinrobe. Given a year to develop further, she could be a different proposition now, yet already has the form to take this. Russellsbelle has a race fitness advantage and did well to finish a close second to Lady Of The Vale at Tipperary last month.
She will have a chance of toppling the likely favourite if she steps forward from that.
SELECTION: VADSA QUEEN
Next best: Russellsbelle