1.50 Irish Stallion Farms

EBF Race 5f

There were plenty of positives to take from Irish Acclamation’s debut third at Cork three weeks ago on heavy ground and she is bound to be in the thick of things here for Donnacha O’Brien. She shaped as though improvement should be on the cards on that occasion. The fact she has the advantage of a run over most of these rivals is a positive, but it also means that we don’t know just how good the opposition is. On paper, Ballydoyle newcomer Treasure Isle and Joseph O’Brien’s Midnight Strike have the chance to be useful types, as does Jessica Harrington’s Passing Phase.

SELECTION: IRISH ACCLAMATION

Next best: Treasure Isle

2.25 Keadeen Hotel Irish

EBF Maiden 6f

Almanzor is not a sire renowned for early two-year-old winners over sprint trips but there is certainly a chance from the dam’s side of Devine Genius’ pedigree that he could be a lively one for the first half of the campaign. Closely related to last season’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner and Railway Stakes runner-up Unquestionable, he fetched €185,000 as a yearling and is of interest for the Adrian Murray-Amo Racing combination.

Whistlejacket is a brother to Little Big Bear, who was beaten on debut here before going on to Group 1 success. The 500,000gns yearling needs respecting in a race where 10 of the 11 runners are unraced. Spartan Solider, a No Nay Never colt with Donnacha O’Brien, is another of interest on paper.

SELECTION: DEVINE GENIUS

Next best: Whistlejacket

2.55 Treacy Group Irish

EBF Maiden 6f

Eclipse Emerald caught the eye in a maiden here last October when second to Samuel Colt and should be a significant player. The third from that contest, Shandy, won a maiden in good style on her return at Cork this season in a timely boost for the form. Betsen caught the eye when second to Shandy over the minimum distance last time and ought to improve for the experience, as well as the step up to six furlongs. Follow Me looks a smart addition to the Ross O’Sullivan team. The French recruit was picked up for €170,000 in November and begins life in Ireland with a mark of 93 - that would be good enough to win the majority of sprint maidens in this country.

SELECTION: ECLIPSE EMERALD

Next best: Betsen

3.30 PG Duffy & Sons

Citroen Handicap 7f

An open affair in which it might be worth taking a chance on bottom-weight Pepper Noir, who steps into handicap company for the first time for Gavin Cromwell. It could be a tough ask for a three-year-old filly taking on her elders for her first try on grass, but there is a fair chance she could be ahead of the handicapper off a mark of 73, and Robert Whearty claims a handy 5lb. Uncle Albert should go well off 6lb higher than when winning last time at Cork, and the addition of cheekpieces on Loingseoir might help him bounce back to form. He needs to improve plenty from his two runs this season but is back down to his last winning mark and has twice been successful around here before.

SELECTION: PEPPER NOIR

Next best: Loingseoir

4.00 Lester Piggott Gladness Stakes (Listed) 7f

The rock-solid Mutasarref signed off last season with a heavy-ground win in the Listed Knockaire Stakes and might be able to pick up from where he left off in similar ground conditions this weekend. Conceding a 3lb penalty isn’t ideal, and there is a considerable three-year-old allowance at this time of year that Henry Adams is trying to exploit. However, Ger Lyons’ string appears to be in a good place at present and the selection is already a course-and-distance winner.

Group 3 winner Henry Adams must bounce back from a no-show on the dirt at Meydan three weeks ago, and any progression from his smart two-year-old form last season will make him a big player. Jumbly’s mark of 105 makes her a big player, though whether she wants the ground as testing as this is an unknown. Yosemite Valley copes with an ease and has the advantage of a run this season.

SELECTION: MUTASARREF

Next best: Henry Adams

4.30 Newbridge Silverware Sprint Handicap 5f

Laugh A Minute is dangerous to underestimate in these conditions and finished just ahead of today’s rival Two Stars here last time. He didn’t get a clear run on that occasion and is taken to go one better this time, especially since he is 2lb better off now with Two Stars, who should be firmly in the mix again after a solid second at Cork three weeks ago. Harry’s Hill blew away the cobwebs at Dundalk last time and better can be expected back at his favourite track, while Magical Vision is never one to take lightly in these conditions.

SELECTION: LAUGH A MINUTE

Next best: Two Stars

5.00 Business Plus Handicap 6f

At the age of 12, there still looks to be life in the veteran Downforce and he could be able to notch win number nine for the Willie McCreery team. He was back from 289 days off last time when fourth to the well-handicapped Merisi Diamond. Off a career-low mark of 64 with the ground to suit, he makes some appeal. Dark Viper was ahead of him on that occasion and was since second over seven furlongs at Naas, so is entitled to be on the premises again in a competitive sprint handicap.

SELECTION: DOWNFORCE

Next best: Dark Viper