12.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase 2m 4f

Telmesomethinggirl can get off the mark and score a first win since her Mares’ Novice Hurdle success at Cheltenham two seasons back. She was a little disappointing when beaten at odds-on first time up in a Thurles beginners’ chase last month, but it’s worth noting that she took a big step forward from her seasonal debut last term and can do so again now.

In any case, she looks the best of these, with Skyace the only other one who was similarly rated over hurdles. She was also disappointing on her chasing bow, more so than Henry de Bromhead’s mare, as she jumped repeatedly to her right at Fontwell, which would be a worry here.

Instit was given a tough gig for her chase debut, taking on Impervious and Dinoblue in a Grade 2 at Cork, and though she was well held, she raced keenly and seemingly just got tired late on. She should strip fitter and has plenty of scope to improve, having had just five runs in her career.

SELECTION: TELMESOMETHINGGIRL

Next best: Instit

1.20 Rathmore Stud Irish EBF Novice Chase 2m

This should be light work for Appreciate It. Rated 160 over hurdles due to a sterling novice campaign, he began his chasing career in good style at Punchestown when too good for Top Bandit, who looks his chief rival again.

Gordon Elliott’s horse got close enough to Appreciate It in the straight that day but it was notable how unpanicked Paul Townend was on the winner, and it seems very likely he can handle a 6lb penalty and confirm form.

Gaelic Arc may be able to chase him home. He ran much better than his finishing position suggested in a Grade 2 contest won by Midnight Run at Punchestown. He was making his chase debut there and got hampered early in the race before working his way back into contention but then fading late on. He was useful over hurdles and has the scope to improve now over fences.

SELECTION: APPRECIATE IT

Next best: Gaelic Arc

1.50 Race And Stay Handicap Chase 2m

Indiana Jones might be able to get off the mark over fences in this handicap chase. Mouse Morris’s seven-year-old has some smart form over fences last season, notably a close defeat at the hands of Busselton, but his jumping let him down in the second half of the campaign. He seems better this year, having finished third and fourth over longer distances for his only two runs in beginners chases. He comes back down in trip now and that might just suit his front-running tactics, with a mark of 132 fair when you consider his early chase form.

Benefit Run makes some appeal as well. He is 11 and has had 22 chase starts, so he’s hardly improving, but he ran well at Musselburgh in November, despite drifting in the market beforehand. He was only just touched at Galway three runs back, when racing off his current mark of 116.

SELECTION: INDIANA JONES

Next best: Benefit Run

2.50 INH Stallion Onwers EBF Maiden Hurdle 1m 7f 194yds

This can go to Found A Fifty, making his hurdles debut here for Gordon Elliott. He hacked up in a Boulta point-to-point in 2021 but didn’t appear again until November where he was a beaten favourite in a Navan bumper. He’s entitled to come on from that and should fare better now with obstacles in front of him.

Hunter’s Yarn couldn’t land his odds-on price tag over this course and distance last time when third to The Big Doyen and Nucky Johnson, but he should step forward now. In the same contest, Tophill Low ran very well for much of the way and may get close to her Willie Mullins-trained rival now. Lorna Fowler’s mare was making her racecourse debut on that occasion so has plenty of scope to improve under similar conditions.

SELECTION: FOUND A FIFTY

Next best: Hunter’s Yarn

3.20 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 2m 2f 187yds

This looks to be a good opportunity for Cadatharla who has shown up well in two maiden hurdles this season. He finished seventh to Hiddenvalley Lake at this course in November before taking fifth behind Arctic Bresil at Cork. That’s pretty good form in the context of this race and a mark of 109, with all his scope to improve on just his fourth ever start, looks very manageable.

Chainofconsequence gets the second vote. He won a two-mile-five-furlong handicap hurdle on his penultimate start at Limerick and even though he couldn’t defy a 7lb higher mark over the same course and distance on his most recent start, he ran well enough in sixth and may well benefit from a lesser stamina test now.

SELECTION: CADATHARLA

Next best: Chainofconsequence

3.50 Fifty Stars Standing At Sunnyhill Stud (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 1m 7f 194yds

A tentative vote goes to Ankud in what is always a tricky race to decipher, as the first four-year-old bumper of the year. The Shadwell-bred son of Nathaniel has the assistance of Jamie Codd in the saddle and Elliott has a healthy 19% strike rate in bumpers this season.

Sattam catches the eye as a Dermot Weld debutant. The son of Sea The Stas is a half-brother to the same trainer’s Umneyaat, who had some decent form on the flat.

Needless to say, the market should prove a notable guide to this contest.

SELECTION: ANKUD

Next best: Sattam