11.50 Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

The form of Stellar Story’s last outing in February got a boost last weekend when the runner-up to him in that bumper, Ile Atlantique, won readily on his hurdling debut at Gowran. A point-to-point and dual bumper winner, the Gordon Elliott-trained six-year-old could be set for a decent campaign and should have little trouble stepping up to two and a half miles for the first time under rules.

Dancing City finished runner-up to the hugely exciting Ballyburn in a bumper at last season’s Punchestown Festival and is obviously respected for the Willie Mullins team. It will be interesting to see whether he is as effective on testing ground, given his overall profile in better conditions.

SELECTION: STELLAR STORY

Next best: Dancing City

12.20 Lisadell Equine Hospital Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

This is a better race than the restricted maiden hurdle Ask Anything won last month at Limerick but he could be a progressive sort for the in-form Gavin Cromwell team and is worth taking a chance on in his handicap debut. He encountered smart operators in bumpers and isn’t in the deepest of waters now. The biggest concern is his lack of experience against hardened hurdlers.

Penny Jar, who is fit from the flat, should be on the premises if back to his best. Sea Aster didn’t run badly last time too and has solid enough place credentials, while Rockbrook deserves a change of luck and can go close if able to cope with another slight rise in class.

SELECTION: ASK ANYTHING

Next best: Penny Jar

12.55 Hotel Park St. Johann In

Tirol Austria Handicap Hurdle 2m

Crassus has been in better form than ever on the flat lately and has the chance to be well handicapped now back over hurdles from the first time since November 2021 (when bumping into the well-handicapped Dads Lad). He handles a cut in the ground and will be hard-fit after some cracking efforts in valuable flat handicaps this autumn.

She hasn’t lived up to the expectations that likely were expected of her as a £370,000 point-to-point graduate but Kudasheva ran her best race under rules at this meeting last year and now gets to drop into handicap company with a first-time tongue-tie added. She’s been largely disappointing but is entitled to come forward from a defeat on her return from a break last time.

SELECTION: CRASSUS

Next best: Kudasheva

1.30 Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

There doesn’t appear to be huge depth to this contest and only three of the six really appeal. The Gordon Elliott-trained duo of Dee Capo, who won a maiden hurdle at Cork 13 days ago, and What’s Up Darling, a solid second at Cork on his reappearance, should be right in the thick of things. The fact Jack Kennedy has sided with Dee Capo makes him the pick of the pair, even though definite improvement can be expected from the stable’s other runner.

She’s A Fine Wine produced a smart performance on her stable/hurdling debut at Limerick and this looks a good piece of placing from connections to pick up blacktype. Taking on the boys will be a tougher test than last time, though.

SELECTION: DEE CAPO

Next best: What’s Up Darling

2.05 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f

Zanahiyr is one of only two runners here who have already had a run this season and that should give him a nice edge over some of his main rivals. He took advantage of a good opportunity last time at Punchestown and that should sharpen him up nicely for this over what is likely his optimum trip.

Home By The Lee traded at 999/1 in the in-running markets on his way to winning this race last year but has a bigger layoff to overcome this time around and his connections might have bigger targets in mind. Bob Olinger finished second here 12 months ago and is bound to be a player again but also comes here entitled to sharpen up for his seasonal bow.

SELECTION: ZANAHIYR

Next best: Bob Olinger

2.40 Bar One Racing Fortria Chase (Grade 2) 2m

Just five go to post in a pretty tidy affair and the weight received by Dysart Dynamo from main rivals Saint Roi and Captain Guinness might just tilt the balance in his favour. His enthusiastic way of racing and travelling might mean that he can get himself fitter easier than would be the case for a lairy sort, and time may show that butting heads with El Fabiolo for much of last season was quite the tough task.

Captain Guinness won this race last year and ran a cracker to finish a 10-length second to easy winner Energumene in last year’s Champion Chase. He is rated 8lb higher than Saint Roi and gets 1lb from that rival, so he makes most appeal at the weights in that particular clash.

SELECTION: DYSART DYNAMO

Next best: Captain Guinness

3.15 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1f

There is genuine Grade 1 quality in this beginners’ chase with Willie Mullins-trained star Facile Vega making his chasing debut against top-level Aintree winner Inthepocket, trained by Henry de Bromhead.

Facile Vega is already priced between 7/2 and 9/2 for the Arkle at Cheltenham and will be expected to make a winning start to life over fences.

He finished three lengths in front of Inthepocket in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle but it will be fascinating to see how the jumping shapes up in this new discipline for both rivals.

Saint Felicien was seemingly highly thought of when coming to Gordon Elliott from France in 2021 but he was pulled up as the 9/2 favourite for the 2022 Coral Cup and hasn’t been seen since. He’s entitled to need the run but is worth watching with an eye to the future.

SELECTION: FACILE VEGA

Next best: Inthepocket

3.50 Bar One Racing

“Guaranteed Overnight Prices” INH Flat Race 2m

There was much to be encouraged by from My Trump Card’s debut fourth over hurdles at this meeting 12 months ago and he ought to be tough to beat if sharp enough on his return from a lengthy absence.

He was particularly eyecatching on that occasion in a maiden hurdle won by Grangeclare Native and he’s well bred as a brother to Grade 1 winner Airlie Beach.

Debut point-to-point winner Springt De La Mare is worth a market check on his debut for Gavin Cromwell, having joined this team privately from Harley Dunne. Tommies Call, out of Royal Ascot-winning mare Jennies Jewel, ran a cracker on his only start when third to Brighterdaysahead in last season’s Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse.

He is a lively player for Jarlath Fahey, while there appeared to be market confidence behind the Barry Connell-trained Apple’s Of Bresil when disappointing on his sole run at last season’s Punchestown Festival. It wouldn’t be a shock if he left that effort behind and raised his game here.

SELECTION: MY TRUMP CARD

Next best: Apple’s Of Bresil