1:10 Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

Much will depend on how ready the Willie Mullins-trained pair Farout and Tax For Max are for their hurdling debuts. Both recruits, from France and Germany respectively, have been left in the Triumph Hurdle and could be anything, however Teahupoo sets a high bar for both to reach on their first starts in Ireland and looks the solid option.

Gordon Elliott’s juvenile was probably going to come off second best to Youmdor, before that rival’s fall at the last in a maiden hurdle over this course and distance last time. Nonetheless, he still finished 15 lengths clear of Druid’s Altair who won at Naas on his next start. He has a penalty to carry but 4lbs he concedes to the Mullins pair is probably not enough to equalise his experience edge.

Tax For Max finished fifth in a Group 1 in Munich and cost €200,000 at the Arqana Deauville Autumn Sale last November. He is a son of Maxios, who has done well in the early stages of his career at stud with the likes of Quilixios and Aramax, and looks more likely out of the Closutton duo to make his mark.

SELECTION: TEAHUPOO

Next best: Tax For Max

1:45 Red Mills Trial Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

Jason The Militant is still in the Champion Hurdle and it will be interesting to see how he fares today, and whether a win could prompt connections to roll the dice, for all that the delay to this contest won’t have helped him.

Although you could be picky about the circumstances of his two third place finishes this term – to Aspire Tower in Down Royal and Abacababras in the Grade 1 Morgiana at Punchestown – that rates solid two-mile form. However, he does have to concede weight all around today and the standout pick on ratings has to be Petit Mouchoir.

Gordon Elliott’s 10-year-old disappointed in the Irish Champion Hurdle last time but that was most unlike his consistent self and he had run very well to finish third in the Matheson Hurdle on his previous start. He has made the frame on six of his last nine starts, four of those at Grade 1 level and one when second off a big weight in the Galway Hurdle. He may also be able to get the run of things here from the front.

Darasso won this two seasons ago and finished second last year, and has been in reasonable form this season. Sixshooter has been running over further than this and it will be interesting to see how he gets on back at the minimum distance.

SELECTION: PETIT MOUCHOIR

Next best: Jason The Militant

2:17 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle 2m

Stranger Danger is a tentative selection in what looks like weak heat. Goron Elliott’s six-year-old performed with credit on two bumper starts earlier in the season and shaped well on his hurdles debut at Thurles last month. He was no match for the winner Eurotiep but finished second, having jumped and travelled well in what will likely be similar ground conditions today. If he can improve, and he should do on this just his fourth ever racecourse appearance, he will be tough to beat.

Breakeven might just have the best piece of form in the race having finished third to Limestone Rock at Naas. He comes back down in trip, which is a question he’ll have to answer today, but clearly has the ability to go well.

SELECTION: STRANGER DANGER

Next best: Breakeven

2:52 Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f 110yds

Willie Mullins often uses this race as a platform for his main Grand National hope and that seems the case again with Burrows Saint and last year’s winner Acapella Bourgeois in today’s line-up. The former, an Irish Grand National winner at this course, is as short as 12/1 for the English equivalent.

That said, he has shown precious little over hurdles this term, beaten 45 lengths by Mary Frances at Clonmel and well held in the Galmoy Hurdle last time as well, despite going off as short as 7/1. Maybe he will take a big step forward back over fences now but his stablemate looks a more solid option on form.

Acapella Bourgeois won this contest impressively last season after finishing second to Al Boum Photo in the Savills New Year’s Day Chase at Tramore and then sixth in the Thyestes.

This year he again finished second to the Gold Cup favourite and finished fifth at Gowran. He has to concede weight to his rivals but is easily the best choice on recent form and he also may be allowed to dictate this small field from the front.

Of the remainder, Anibale Fly is very interesting, with the Grand National in mind, a race he has finished fourth and fifth in. He struggled last season but has tumbled down the weights as a result and a big run here could set him up nicely for the National, for which he has been allotted a weight of 10st 13lb.

SELECTION: ACAPELLA BOURGEOIS

Next best: Burrows Saint

3:25 Fingal Hygiene & Safety Rated Novice Chase 3m 1f 110yds

This looks a nice opportunity for Choungaya to build on his beginners’ chase win at this track last time out. Twice placed at Grade 3 level over hurdles, he has taken time to make an impact over fences but his mark of 134 is good in the context of this race and moving up in trip should pose no problem either.

High Sparrow disappointed in the Punchestown Grand National Trial earlier this month but he had run well on his previous two starts and this looks a softer race for him so he should run well. Cushinstown Finest finished ahead of him in a Punchestown handicap chase last month, but is significantly worse off at the weights today. Colin Bowe’s mare is a consistent sort and will likely be on the premises if the earlier mentioned two fail to fire.

SELECTION: CHOUNGAYA

Next best: High Sparrow

4:00 Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

This is a nice race for the grade with a handful of runners potentially well handicapped. Visionarian sticks out the most on account of his performance to finish second to the subsequent listed winner Thedevilscoachman at Navan last time. Peter Fahey is often patient with his horses and that was only Visionarian’s third start, his first since October when he had run well to finish second to Railway Hurricane at Tipperary. There is a good chance he will be able to take a step forward again today.

Mattie’s Mountain arrives here on a four-timer, with two of his three previous wins coming over two miles at this course.

He appeared to appreciate the step up in trip when winning at Limerick the last day so that could well have unlocked further improvement in him.

Campeador is another who makes appeal. Once a very promising prospect, he ran his best race in a long time when third to Damalisque at Navan last time and can build on that back at a course he has run well at before.

SELECTION: VISIONARIAN

Next best: Mattie’s Mountain

4:35 Easter Festival 3rd - 5th April Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f 165yds

Goulane Jessie looks the call here after a good run to finish second to the in-form Kristian Goingwel over fences at Punchestown. He returns to hurdles now off a 4lbs lower mark and at a track that he has performed well at before.

His previous run over hurdles was a very good second in a three-mile hurdle here and prior to that he won over this distance at the course.

Grey Habit is another course winner and he also caught the eye when he finished third to Regina Dracones at 33/1 here the last day. If she can build on that effort, she should be thereabouts again.

SELECTION: GOULANE JESSIE

Next best: Grey Habit

5:10 www.Justlite.com, Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m

It may pay to go with track experience, so Gordon Elliott’s Prevaricate gets the vote. Winner of his four-year-old maiden at Knockmullen Hourse in November, this Fame And Glory gelding performed well on his racecourse debut, finishing second to Dixie Flyer at Down Royal. He has been given time since that effort and could well turn in an improved effort today in a race his trainer has won three times in the last four years.

Both Glengouly and Gracchus De Balme are interesting track recruits having won on their point debuts. Slight preference is for the latter, who won in good style at Loughrea when handled by Pat Doyle and he now makes his debut for Willie Mullins with the multiple champion amateur in the plate.

SELECTION: PREVERICATE

Next best: Glengouly