3:40 MARTINSTOWN OPPORTUNITY SERIES FINAL HANDICAP HURDLE

A tricky start to the day but this race will change complexion significantly should Gordon Elliott’s hat-trick seeking Fridaynightlights get in as first reserve. The advice is to wait until the early afternoon before having a bet.

In any case, Cross My Mind, trained by Arthur Moore for JP McManus, is sure to be well primed for this. He has only had three runs and he won on his previous start, in impressive style at Wexford. He is open to any amount of improvement having his first start in a handicap. McManus has another prime contender in Close Shave, who boasts a similar profile to Cross My Mind, for his trainer Jessica Harrington. However it may be the in-form Black Zero that gives the selection most to do. He has been in terrific form over both hurdles and fences of late and ran a cracker to finish second to the well-handicapped Showem Silver at Fairyhouse last week. One at a bigger price to consider is Dawerann who has run well over fences on his two previous runs and returns to hurdles in good form.

SELECTION: CROSS MY MIND NEXT BEST: BLACK ZERO LONGSHOT: DAWERANN

4:20 LOUIS FITZGERALD HOTEL HURDLE

Minella Till Dawn and Battleford look the two to concentrate on. The pair are closely matched on ratings however both come into this off far from ideal runs. Minella Till Dawn was just about to challenge Al Boum Photo in a Grade 2 hurdle at Fairyhouse, when he came down at the last while Battleford could only finish midfield in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham. Preference is for the Willie Mullins horse however, as he could well improve for this better ground and his form with Monalee on his penultimate run, reads very well.

Milsean, who finished runner-up to Martello Tower in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham two seasons ago, is the top-rated horse in the race but has been disappointing lately. Burgas ran really well to finish third to Cup Final in a good three-mile handicap hurdle at the festival last season so he rates as a lively outsider.

SELECTION: BATTLEFORD NEXT BEST: MINELLA TILL DAWN LONGSHOT: BURGAS

Presenting Percy was very impressive at Cheltenham and can make the step up to Grade 1 company

4:55 IRISH DAILY MIRROR NOVICE HURDLE

Despite the absence of Death Duty, who misses this to run over shorter later in the week, this looks a cracking contest with the majority of the eight-runner field coming into this off a career best.

Penhill and Monalee renew rivalry after finishing first and second in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Penhill, representing Willie Mullins, looked well on top at the finish of that race but Monalee is returning to a track he has won at and perhaps has a little bit more scope to improve. However the pair will have a tough task trying to account for Presenting Percy, who was so impressive at the Cheltenhan Festival, winning the Pertemps easily off a mark of 146. Although comparing times on different days can be misleading, it is interesting that Presenting Percy and Penhill clocked very similar times in their respective Cheltenham races, which tips the balance towards Pat Kelly’s runner when you account the 6lbs extra he had to carry. The six-year-old looks really progressive in any case and he could well start favourite here.

An outsider to note is Moulin A Vent, who finished third in Land Rover Bumper here last season and who could well improve for this step up in trip and better ground.

SELECTION: PRESENTING PERCY NEXT BEST: PENHILL LONGSHOT: MOULIN A VENT

5:30 CORAL PUNCHESTOWN GOLD CUP

This is a cracking race, with the two previous Cheltenham Gold Cup winners taking each other on. Both horses are at opposite ends of the spectrum however, with Sizing John a seven-year-old with more scope to improve at this trip and Coneygree, a 10-year-old trying to come back after desperate luck with injuries in the previous two seasons.

It’s going to be difficult for Coneygree, who has had just one run in the previous 534 days, to come over to Punchestown and pull off his dominating, from-the-front style of running. In any case, it’s hard to get away from Sizing John, who has only run over 3m+ twice but has recorded two career bests in winning both the Irish and Cheltenham Gold Cups. He is still only seven so he could be even better again here and he rates a solid favourite. Djakadam was beaten fair and square at Cheltenham but he is likely to be the main danger to Jessica Harrington’s horse with the drop back to three miles a plus for him. Elsewhere, Outlander completely bombed at Cheltenham but that run was strangely out of character for a horse who has been consistent throughout his career. He has a similar profile to Sizing John if you discard that run so he may be worth taking a chance on if you’re looking for an alternative to the short-priced favourite.

SELECTION: SIZING JOHN NEXT BEST: DJAKADAM LONGSHOT: OUTLANDER

Fayonagh will team up with Jamie Codd in her bid to do the Cheltenham-Punchestown double

6:05 RACING POST CHAMPION I.N.H FLAT RACE

Only seven runners line up but it is a quality-looking field and bookmakers have narrowed it down to four. Fayonagh is at the head of that four and she is going to be difficult to beat. She was impressive at Cheltenham when she gave away at least three lengths at the start before working her way back into the race and then taking off for Jamie Codd in the straight. It was no surprise to hear connections mention Royal Ascot after the race.

In contrast, her nearest market rival Poli Roi, is likely to end up a staying chaser, having come from the point-to-point field. He was impressive at Navan, where he won his bumper, but that was on soft ground and now he comes into a Grade 1 race on better ground, on only his second track start and will have to try and concede 7lbs to the Cheltenham Champion Bumper winner.

Someday was a late non-runner for the Cheltenham Bumper but now gets a chance to bag a Grade 1 on the track he made his debut at last season when finishing second to Cilaos Emery. The form of his bumper win looks stronger than Poli Roi’s Navan win so he may give the favourite the most to do. Paloma Blue beat subsequent winner Oakley Hall on his debut at Fairyhouse and he could run well here at around the 25/1 mark.

SELECTION: FAYONAGH NEXT BEST: SOMEDAY LONGSHOT: PALOMA BLUE

6:40 GUINNESS HANDICAP CHASE

Last year’s winner Irish Cavalier, comes back to Punchestown off just a 2lb higher mark. He has an excellent record at the track. The only worry was his run at Aintree where he never really got into the Topham but saying that, he should be more at home around this track and he is sure to put up another big run on the decent ground he likes.

Polidam is the most intriguing runner in the race. Willie Mullins was keen to get his French recruit into the Irish Grand National but a rating of 137 wasn’t high enough. He could be anything off that rating but hasn’t run in 164 days and there may be slight concerns about the ground. Rightdownthemiddle ran well at Aintree and he looks like he has improved for a switch to Gordon Elliott’s yard while Vintage Vinnie, another runner for Rebecca Curtis, will love the conditions and could get involved with last year's winning jockey Jonathan Moore booked to ride.

SELECTION: IRISH CAVALIER NEXT BEST: POLIDAM LONGSHOT: VINTAGE VINNIE

7:15 WEATHERBYS GENERAL STUD BOOK EBF MARES FLAT RACE

A valuable race for mares and there is no surprise to see a large field. Jamie Codd has been booked by Jonathan Sweeney for likely favourite Minutestomidnight who beat Half The Odds, who reopposes, by 12 lengths at Wexford on his previous run. Noel Meade’s horse won at Fairyhouse last week giving that form a boost so that in itself sets a fair standard here.

Bluegrass Princess and Mystic Theatre also hold form together with Eamonn O’Connell’s mare easily beating the latter-mentioned at Naas. Derek O’Connor has been booked to ride her and a repeat of that Naas run will see her at the business end of this race. Others to note were Frazel Princess who showed up well in a mares’ listed bumper won by Snow Leopardess in Gowran Park back in September and Jelan who has disappointed on her two previous runs over hurdles and returns to a bumper here.

SELECTION: BLUEGRASS PRINCESS NEXT BEST: MINUTESTOMIDNIGHT LONGSHOT: FRAZEL PRINCESS