1.35 Tally Ho Stud Irish EBF (C&G) Maiden 6f

It’s clearly significant that Ryan Moore is riding newcomer Congo River, a Mendelssohn colt, instead of last week’s Naas runner-up Age Of Kings (Wayne Lordan) but the latter may still win out. He did very well to get so close to Shartash, who had the benefit of a run and, in truth, he was a nose away from taking his chance in the Marble Hill today instead of this maiden. Maybe his stablemate is doing better things at home, but Age Of Kings has the experience and can utilise that strength.

Woodcock Flight is another who ran nicely first time out and can have a say if stepping up from that, while Blanc De Noir is the other newcomer to note. Owned by Stonestreet Stables, he is a half brother to the Group 1-winning Havana Grey.

SELECTION: AGE OF KINGS

Next best: Congo River

2.10 Gain Marble Hill Stakes (Group 3) 6f

Tough Talk is a ready selection. All the talk was of Little Big Bear in the maiden he contested first time out but he came with a late run and nailed that colt fair and square on the line. Education was the first priority for the son of Kingman, on what was reported to be his first encounter with grass, and he still had the talent to come through. The runner-up and third have won since, and he can make it two out of two.

Blackbeard is an obvious danger, considering he is two from two and already a listed winner courtesy of his win at Cork, but maybe Mehmar can emerge as the selection’s chief rival. He did really well to push the odds-on The Antarctic so close in a good conditions race at Naas last week and Michael O’Callaghan seems to have a nice crop of juveniles this year.

SELECTION: TOUGH TALK

Next best: Mehmar

2.45 Weatherbys Ireland

Greenlands Stakes (Group 2) 6f

A Case Of You sets a hefty standard and although he has achieved his Group 1 wins outside of Ireland, he has a good Curragh record. That said, he has been away to Dubai already this year, and connections have some grand targets in mind for him, so maybe this will be a stepping stone for him.

Power Under Me is put forward in the hope that the ground doesn’t get too quick. Ger Lyons’ colt comes into this off the back of two career best performances, significantly with the off season dividing them both. He was much too good for the useful filly Teresa Mendoza over course and distance here in October but kicked on again when outstaying Mooneista late home in a listed contest at Cork on his comeback.

The good ground there was reported to be as fast as he’d want it, and any sort of juice in the ground will bring his stamina over this trip into play. In any case, he looks progressive now and will be a big threat.

The British threat is significant, and as impressive as Brad The Brief was when beating Glen Shiel at Haydock, the latter has the course know-how here and is taken to improve from that seasonal debut run.

SELECTION: POWER UNDER ME

Next best: Glen Shiel

3.55 Hanlon Concrete Orby Stakes (Listed) 1m4f

A tentative vote goes to Raise You in what looks an open race. Joseph O’Brien’s gelding has done most of his racing over a mile to 10 furlongs but he was a revelation when trying this trip for the first time in the Amateur Riders Derby here last October.

Maybe that form shouldn’t be relied upon completely, but he was a smart winner over the useful Barbados on the day, proving that he can stay this trip. That opens up scope for further progress and he also has a decent record fresh, so the fact that he is making his seasonal debut here isn’t overly worrying.

Wordsworth, the Irish Derby third, is a likely favourite, but he was a little disappointing on his penultimate start and again at Ascot last time. The other Joseph O’Brien runner, Okita Soushi, is more interesting. He was an impressive winner on his racecourse debut at Fairyhouse last year and a line can be put through his next effort, a tactically-run race at Leopardstown.

SELECTION: RAISE YOU

Next best: Okita Soushi

4.30 William Hill Handicap

(Premier) 1m2f

Moracana did very well to get across from stall 17 to win at Leopardstown last time and she looks progressive enough now to defy a 9lb higher mark. Sheila Lavery’s filly stayed on strongly down the outside to win that day and the form of the race has worked out well with both the second and third horses, Entropy and Earl Of Tyrone, winning by wide margins since.

It was also Moracana’s first start of the season and just her fourth career start, so she has lots of scope to improve further and the Curragh should suit her.

In contrast, Golden Twilight will be ridden from the front but he may be just as effective. He won twice at Dundalk over winter, but proved he can be equally good on turf when only just fading out of a good handicap won by Tip Of The Spear at Cork last month. He will probably always be vulnerable to a late finisher but, with race fitness on side, he can stay the trip better today.

SELECTION: MORACANA

Next best: Golden Twilight

5.03 FBD Hotels And Resorts Handicap 7f

Fiach McHugh might be the answer to this competitive heat. Andrew Slattery’s gelding showed useful form without winning last season but he got off the mark at Dundalk in April and then put up a clear career best when finding only Ivy League too good in the Blackwater Handicap at Naas. That Aidan O’Brien-trained runner is rated 107 now, so Fiach McHugh has to have a reasonable chance of going well off a mark of 91, for all that he was well held at Naas.

Solar Breeze looks potentially well handicapped off 83 after her close second to Ezine at Naas. That was also only her third ever start and first of the season, so she can progress now.

SELECTION: FIACH MCHUGH

Next best: Solar Breeze

5.35 William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap 1m

A tentative vote goes to Monzoon. Ross O’Sullivan’s gelding won a big-field handicap over this course and distance last season and although he’s 11lb higher in the weights now, he put up a probable career best when second to Aurora Princes on his seasonal debut at Limerick.

Plunkett is another to have started the season well. He was a good winner of a Gowran Park handicap on seasonal debut and then went close at Limerick when only a half length away from Dha Leath.

SELECTION: MONZOON

Next best: Plunkett