12.00 Mervyn Gray Construction Maiden Hurdle 2m

Some useful types involved here, including impressive Galway bumper winner Butcher Hollow, who joined Tom Cooper for £200,000 after a debut point-to-point win in February for Con McSweeney. Jigoro showed potential when second in a Cork maiden hurdle last time too and ought to play a role.

However, the Willie Mullins-trained Milo Lises is preferred after posting a big effort to finish second behind stablemate Predators Gold in last season’s Goffs Defender Bumper at the Punchestown Festival. The winner, third and fifth have already won maiden hurdles this season (fourth yet to run) so there is substance to the form and the yard’s returning runners appear to be getting sharper with each week that passes.

SELECTION: MILO LISES

Next best: Butcher Hollow

12.32 Headfort Arms Hotel Maiden Hurdle 2m

Caldwell Potter, a brother to the stable’s ill-fated Grade 1 winner Mighty Potter and a half-brother to Brighterdaysahead, French Dynamite and Indiana Jones (all blacktype performers), can show the benefit of his hurdling debut experience last time at Punchestown to get off the mark here. There was no shame in finding It’s For Me too strong on that occasion and he looked relatively comfortable keeping good company in bumpers last season. It could be the start of a big afternoon for his trainer, who runs 18 horses at his local track today.

Dr Eggman is an obvious threat for the Mullins camp, having finished third in the 2022 Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper and filling the same position at last season’s Punchestown Festival before winning at Ballinrobe in May. The fact Jack Kennedy rides Caldwell Potter over stablemate He’s Ultimate is encouraging for the selection. It will be interesting to see if there is any market support for Barry Connell-trained newcomer Mystical Vision.

SELECTION: CALDWELL POTTER

Next best: Dr Eggman

1.07 Tote Navan Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f

Jockey bookings for the Elliott runners are also intriguing in this Grade 2 contest, with Kennedy partnering Navan Racing Festival maiden hurdle winner Stellar Story instead of recent Punchestown scorer Better Days Ahead. Both are quality types but the former gets the nod over this trip as a progressive six-year-old who has a likeable attitude.

Slade Steel, whose maiden hurdle-winning form was boosted by King Of Kingsfield (runner-up behind him at Naas) finishing second in the Grade 1 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle last weekend. He rates a bright prospect for Henry de Bromhead and Robcour, and it will be interesting to see how effective he is now stepping up to two and a half miles (from two miles). Lecky Watson was workmanlike in winning last time and needs to step up but there’s bound to be improvement from him after blowing away the cobwebs on that occasion.

SELECTION: STELLAR STORY

Next best: Better Days Ahead

1.42 Bective Stud, Tea Rooms & Apartments Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 3m 1f

Elliott is responsible for six of the 17 runners in this €100,000 affair and the progressive profile of novice Will Do might just make him the stable’s biggest chance of plundering the prize. A winner of his last three starts - admittedly in calmer waters the last twice at Sligo and Thurles - he could be better than a mark of 128 if able to defy his inexperience in this sphere (just two hurdles starts).

Angels Dawn is likely building towards bigger targets over fences but could show up well off an attractive hurdles rating of 118 (carrying bottom-weight of 10st 2lb). We’llhavewan should be in the shake-up if capable of delivering his best on winter ground, while J.P. McManus’ Shadow Rider and Canal End are worthy of inclusion on the shortlist.

SELECTION: WILL DO

Next best: Angels Dawn

2.17 Foxrock Handicap Chase (Listed Race) 2m 4f 100yds

He may not have bundles in hand off his current handicap mark of 141 but Mars Harper is generally dependable and is bound to stay well in this €40,000 pot, having run a cracker last time to finish second in a competitive event at Punchestown. A five-time winner who appears to be in the form of his life in recent months, he should make a bold bid for the Elliott team and Jack Kennedy.

Henry de Bromhead’s duo of Eklat De Rire and Shantreusse have definite claims on their best form, Union Park can’t be ruled out at the foot of the weights for Philip Rothwell and the in-form Conor Stone-Walsh. All Those Years, who disappointed at Limerick last time, would be a fascinating contender if able to recapture his old spark off just 10st (1lb out of the handicap) for Charles Byrnes and J.P. McManus.

SELECTION: MARS HARPER

Next best: All Those Years

2.52 Durnin Workshop Beginners Chase 2m 4f 100yds

Just seven go to post for this beginners’ contest but there is definite quality in the line-up. Saint Felicien is the only runner to have already had a run over fences, and that might hand him an edge here. He showed promise on his chasing bow when third to Grade 1 performers in Facile Vega and Inthepocket at the Navan Racing Festival, and he’s surely entitled to come on for the run having been absent for 612 days before then.

Willie Mullins’ duo of Shanbally Kid and Indiana Dream were smart hurdlers last season, with the latter unfortunately absent for the remainder of the campaign after a classy maiden hurdle win at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. It’s impossible to know how good he could be at this stage. Hiddenvalley Lake, a Grade 3 novice hurdle winner last season for Henry de Bromhead, might possibly need a bit further than this on the basis of his hurdles form but clearly has a decent level of ability and could well improve for the switch to fences.

SELECTION: SAINT FELICIEN

Next best: Indiana Dream

3.25 Timeless Sash Windows INH Flat Race 2m

It’s interesting to see connections of My Trump Card stick to the bumper route for the time being, given he turns six next month and could be smart staying novice hurdler this season, but connections have found him a great chance for him to belatedly get off the mark after an eyecatching near miss at the Navan Racing Festival last month. That looked a high-class bumper, won by the Gavin Cromwell-trained Springt De La Mare, and he might even have won in different circumstances, having found generously for pressure in the closing stages. Patrick Mullins, who bred My Trump Card, deputises for the suspended Harry Swan.

The Story So Far, trained by Charles Byrnes, was the subject of a market move ahead of his debut third at Clonmel last month, shortening from 14/1 to 100/30, and connections have now reached for cheekpieces. SELECTION: MY TRUMP CARD

Next best: The Story So Far