1:40 SEAMUSWELDON.COM MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 1F
The Dermot Weld-trained Zafayan has had his share of chances over hurdles, but he won’t get many better ones than this.
Rated 100 of the flat, he came up short on two separate occasions over hurdles when fancied at the Galway Festival, but this is a much weaker contest and it will be very disappointing if he fails to get the job done.
Of the hurdling debutants, the Eoin Griffin-trained Pashtunwali makes the most appeal following his win in a bumper at this track last time.
Selection: ZAFAYAN
Next Best: Pashtunwali
2:10 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF NOVICE HURDLE 2M 6F
The Jessica Harrington-trained Sandymount Duke may have a triple penalty to carry, but he very much looks to be the one to beat in this.
The son of Hernando has improved out of all recognition in the last year, winning his last four starts over hurdles.
He stays very well indeed, so the return to this longer trip will very much suit and he sets the standard.
The main danger to him could well be the Henry De Bromhead-trained Exxaro following his very easy win in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary last time.
Selection: SANDYMOUNT DUKE
Next Best: Exxaro
2:45 MCSWEENEY ARMS HOTEL HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 6F
A strong field for this handicap hurdle and Willie Mullins may have the answer in the shape of Valyssa Monterg.
The six-year-old produced a much-improved effort to make a winning handicap hurdle debut in a valuable contest at the Galway Festival last time.
An 8lb rise may not be enough to stop her following up in this. Another one that is dropping in class is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Marchese Marconi, with the six-year-old having finished a fine fifth in the Galway Hurdle last time.
Selection: VALYSSA MONTERG
Next Best: Marchese Marconi
3:20 JOC METAL FABRICATION (C & G) BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 1F
An above-average contest of this type for this time of year and the Henry De Bromhead-trained A Sizing Network is given the nod.
The five-year-old is officially rated 130 over hurdles and while he got no further than the second fence on his chasing debut at Ballinrobe in May, that was probably just a blip and he is worth another chance.
The pick of the chasing debutants looks to be the Alan Fleming-trained Golantilla.
Tony Martin trained the seven-year-old to achieve an official rating of 133 over hurdles and with him being a winning point-to-pointer, he rates as a promising prospect over fences.
Selection: A SIZING NETWORK
Next Best: Golantilla
3:55 INTERNATIONAL HOTEL BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 4F 120YDS
This race presents an excellent opportunity for the Enda Bolger-trained Colour Squadron to finally get off the mark over fences.
The nine-year-old was formerly trained by Philip Hobbs to finish in the frame in multiple high-class chase races, most notably the Paddy Power Gold Cup and the Byrne Group Plate at Cheltenham in 2013/14.
He ran well on his first completed start for Bolger at the Galway Festival and if he can’t make it 14th-time lucky over fences in a race of this standard, his future prospects will not look overly rosy.
Perhaps his most interesting rival is the Henry De Bromhead-trained Full Cry on what is his chasing debut.
Selection: COLOUR SQUADRON
Next Best: Full Cry
4:30 MSL CORK MERCEDES-BENZ HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE C) 2M 4F 120YDS
Highly-competitive fare and marginal preference is given to the Jessica Harrington-trained Mr Fiftyone. The six-year-old has been competing very well in similar contests over fences of late and conditions appeal as being pretty close to ideal for him, so it wouldn’t surprise to see him get off the mark in handicap company in this.
Of the rest, the Edward O’Grady-trained Gallant Tipp made the breakthrough over fences last time and is well handicapped relative to his form over hurdles.
Selection: MR FIFTYONE
Next Best: Gallant Tipp
5:05 MALTON.COM (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M 1F
Just the four runners for this winner’s bumper, but an intriguing contest nevertheless and the Willie Mullins-trained Prince D’Aubrelle is selected to prevail.
The five-year-old produced a much-improved effort when bolting up at the Galway Festival last time and if he can improve on that again he will take an awful lot of beating.
His main rival looks to be the Aidan O’Brien-trained All The Answers, with the four-year-old having won a bumper at Ballinrobe in gritty style last time.
Selection: PRINCE D’AUBRELLE
Next Best: All The Answers
5:40 ML LYNCH CIVIL ENGINEERING (Q.R.) RACE 2M 1F
A very interesting closer to the card and the Noel Meade-trained Rich Coast is likely to be tough to beat.
The seven-year-old is rated 107 on the flat and while he hasn’t reached the same high level over hurdles yet, his official rating of 138 is respectable.
He sets the standard back on the level with conditions in his favour.
Of the National Hunt types, the Paul Fahey-trained Lots Of Memories has to be considered with him rated 146 over hurdles and 135 over fences.
Selection: RICH COAST
Next Best: Lots Of Memories