12.40 Mulryan Auctioneers Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 11yds
Battling Bessie is put forward to build on her excellent bumper form last season. She showed a good level of form in quality contests with the pick of her efforts being a nose second to Lily Du Berlais in a well-contested Grade 2 event at Leopardstown in February.
Her experience on the track earns her the vote over winning pointer Deeply Superficial who had a subsequent dual bumper winner 10 lengths back in second when making a very promising debut at Lingstown last December. She looks a potentially smart recruit for Gordon Elliott.
Law Ella was second in the mares’ bumper at Aintree having previously won at Down Royal. She looks another formidable contender.
SELECTION: BATTLING BESSIE
Next best: Deeply Superficial
1.15 Purchase By 3pm Today To Winabmw.ie Irish EBF Beginners Chase 2m 6f 111yds
This could see Thedevilscoachman make a successful return to fences. He tried chasing last season and posted two solid efforts in defeat with the pick being his third to Ferny Hollow and Coeur Sublime at Punchestown last December. He then reverted to hurdles to win the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan in February over two miles and five furlongs and that effort would point to his prospects of making up into a smart novice chaser at this trip.
Churchstonewarrior was a very useful staying novice hurdler last term and signed off with a Grade 2 second to Bronn at Fairyhouse last April. He should do well over fences. Folcano is respected as he has fitness on his side having finished third to Life In The Park at Listowel last month. Sams Profile is another to keep in mind as he was a high-class staying hurdler at his peak.
SELECTION: THEDEVILSCOACHMAN
Next best: Churchstonewarrior
1.50 Marlin Hotel Dublin Supporting The National Breast Cancer Research Institute Handicap Chase 2m 6f 111yds
It Could Be You has good prospects of notching up his second course-and-distance success of the season. He defeated Hoke Colburn here in September before a below par effort at Listowel but he returned to form when switched back to hurdles at Punchestown recently when finishing second to King Kal.
He can make his race fitness count against Flash De Touzaine who ran quite well in a decent novice handicap chase at Navan in March on his most recent start. That effort followed a creditable showing in a rated chase at Fairyhouse in January and he has room for progression after just four chase starts.
SELECTION: IT COULD BE YOU
Next best: Flash De Touzaine
2.20 Glenman Corporation Handicap Chase (0-109) 2m 6f 111yds
A series of solid runs in defeat lately point to Hoke Colburn’s chances of recording his first win in just under two years. Since chasing home It Could Be You over this course and distance in September he has also filled the runner-up spot behind Mica Malpic at Listowel and he was beaten just over two lengths into third by Menindee at Punchestown a couple of weeks ago.
He deserves to get his turn and can do so at the expense of King Ferdinand who is 8lbs higher in the weights than when winning at Thurles last week. The top-weight, Follow The Crowd, is respected as he looks to build on a victory at Roscommon in August, while Sanibel Island shouldn’t be underestimated as he goes in search of a hat-trick.
SELECTION: HOKE COLBURN
Next best: King Ferdinand
2.55 Colm Quinn BMW Novice Hurdle 2m 4f 156yds
Favorite Moon is put forward to make his proven fitness count. He finished down the field in the Cesarewitch at Newmarket on his last start but previously he ran out a comfortable winner of a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick which has already produced several subsequent winners. He also showed up well at this track during the summer when taking sixth behind Echoes In Rain in the featured amateur riders’ handicap on the opening night of the summer festival.
Jack In The Box looks a useful type but hasn’t run in 243 days. He built on a couple of reasonable encouraging maiden hurdle runs to win a two-mile–three-furlong maiden at Naas in March. There should be more to come from him after just three career starts.
SELECTION: FAVORITE MOON
Next best: Jack In The Box
3.30 Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate Maiden Hurdle 2m 6f
A hopeful vote goes to Monbeg Park to make a successful start over hurdles. This winning pointer showed a good level of form in bumpers last spring when his form included a victory over two miles and three furlongs at Cork and a fine third to Tag Man in a winners’ event at the Punchestown Festival when he had several very useful sorts in arears.
He is marginally preferred to fellow winning pointer Affordale Fury who began his career on the track with a victory in a bumper at this track earlier in the month. The four-year-old’s pointing exploits would suggest that the step up to this trip won’t be a problem for him. The consistent Sam’s Choice has lots of experience to call upon and he should be able to improve on his comeback second to Inclusion in a Downpatrick maiden just over three weeks ago.
SELECTION: MONBEG PARK
Next best: Affordale Fury
4.05 Kirby Group Handicap Hurdle 2m 11yds
The Dasher Conway returned to form at Fairyhouse earlier this month to finish a three-quarter-length second to Doyenna in a handicap hurdle over this trip. That run followed a couple of unplaced efforts but he did win over two miles at Clonmel earlier in the season and his best form would suggest he can play a leading role.
Blanketontheground looks a contender. She has put together a succession of solid efforts in defeat and comes here off two placed runs at Listowel. A longer trip could suit her better but she should still be able to give a good account of herself. Fortunedefortunata is an unexposed and interesting English import, while Grange Walk is interesting as he holds a much lower mark over hurdles than the one he has over fences.
SELECTION: THE DASHER CONWAY
Next best: Blanketontheground
4.35 Front Door 4-Y-O Fillies (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 11yds
I Am Shadow has plenty of experience to call upon after five previous outings. She also boasts decent course form having chased home Carrigmoorna Queen in a mares bumper at this track during the summer. On her last start she was beaten less than a length into third by Jessqueen in a bumper at Tipperary at the start of the month.
Mel Monroe was an impressive winner of a point-to-point in the spring and looks capable of playing a leadingrole. Coastguard Lady should be able to build on a satisfactory debut at this track in September when she was fourth to Notkeepinyagoing.
SELECTION: I AM SHADOW
Next best: Mel Monroe
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