1.45 Bar One Price Boosts All Favourites At Cheltenham Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f

Pont Du Gard will have to improve on his comeback at Punchestown last month where he was beaten just under 22l by Grandero Bello and that form leaves him with plenty to find against several of today’s rivals. However, he is entitled to progress from what was his first run in almost a year and he finished second in two maiden hurdles, notably when beaten just under 2l by Egality Mans in a maiden at this track.

If he can get back to last season’s form he should be able to deal with Jack In The Box who was beaten 4½l into fourth by Grandero Bello last time. That effort gives him a slight edge over Corbeau.

SELECTION: PONT DU GARD

Next Best: Jack In The Box

2.20 Bar One Racing Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 1m 7f 80yds

A marginal vote goes to Slip Of The Tongue. He defeated Deploy The Getaway by ¾l when the pair clashed in a listed novice hurdle over a similar trip to this at Punchestown last month. On that occasion Slip Of The Tongue would probably have had more to spare only for making a bad mistake at the last.

He is now 4lbs worse off with Deploy The Getaway but this likeable type has progressed nicely in the space of his four race career and he could easily do better still.

SELECTION: SLIP OF THE TONGUE

Next Best: Deploy The Getaway

2.55 Bar One Racing Bet #10 Get #50 Sign Up Offer Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f

Bread And Butter hasn’t won since July 2020 and he is 18lbs higher than when last successful. However, he deserves to get his turn following a succession of good runs in smart handicaps.

He was beaten ½l into third by Futurum Regem in a Grade B event at Navan in December and finished a close third to The Very Man in an identical race the following month with those runs coming either side of a good second to An Epic Song at Punchestown.

He deserves to get his turn and he is chosen ahead of the progressive Macs Charm who is chasing a hat-trick after wins at Navan and an easy one at Gowran.

SELECTION: BREAD AND BUTTER

Next Best: Macs Charm

3.30 Bar One Racing Extra Places Everyday At Cheltenham Handicap Hurdle (80-102) 1m 7f 80yds

He is lining up in much better form than most of his rivals and Kashi looks as though he might be able to defy top-weight. He is stepping back in trip after chasing home Memory Of Youth over an extended 2m 3f at Fairyhouse last time but he has several decent efforts over 2m to his name as well.

Flyin Hawaiian could be interesting. He will have to better his last couple of runs but his sixth to Ebasari at Cork in early January wasn’t a bad run and suggested he could be up to making his mark over hurdles.

SELECTION: KASHI

Next Best: Flyin Hawaiian

4.05 Bar One Racing Directors Plate Novice Chase (Grade 3) 2m 4f 90yds

West Cork Wildway might be able to upstage Jeremys Flame. He bounced back from a fall on his chasing debut to defeat The Bosses Oscar in a 2m 6f beginners’ event at Thurles in November and he wasn’t at all disgraced when beaten just over 34l by Bob Olinger in a Grade 3 at Punchestown last time.

On that occasion he finished just 3l behind Gaillard Du Mesnil who went on to be placed at Grade 1 level next time while behind him was the subsequent Leopardstown Chase fourth Gallant John Joe and Lieutenant Command who may well have won a Grade B contest next time only for falling two out.

That calibre of form would suggest he will at least give Jeremys Flame a good test. The latter has won two of her last three starts, easily defeating Dolcita on both occasions, as well as finishing a fine second to Ballyshannon Rose in a Grade 2 event at Thurles.

SELECTION: WEST CORK WILDWAY

Next Best: Jeremys Flame

4.40 Baroneracing.com Leinster National Handicap Chase (Grade A) 3m 126yds

This should see Franco De Port defy top-weight. He has to give upwards of 11lbs to his rivals but if he lines up in the form that saw him finish a ¾l second to Longhouse Poet in the Thyestes Chase he should win.

He has previously made seven consecutive starts at Grade 1 level (winning once and finishing second twice) and this level of competition is easier.

The Thyestes fourth Diol Ker is a lively threat, while another horse to consider is Scoir Mear who won this race last year and shaped with promise in a useful handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks ago.

SELECTION: FRANCO DE PORT

Next Best: Diol Ker

5.15 Bar One Racing Prices Available On Day 1 From Cheltenham Mares (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 1m 7f 80yds

Liberty Dance could take beating. She was a wide-margin winner of a Fairyhouse bumper on her debut and then looked an unlucky loser in the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival where she was beaten a nose and a short-head into third after enduring a somewhat troubled run.

Her biggest danger could come from Dorans Weir who won a Thurles bumper on her second start just prior to Christmas and followed that effort with a good ¾l second to The Nice Guy in a winner’s bumper at Leopardstown just over a week later.

SELECTION: LIBERTY DANCE

Next Best: Dorans Weir