12:00 IRISH STALLION OWNERS EBF MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Momus put it up to favourite Defi Bleu on his previous run, which came at this track, and he is likely to be thereabouts again but there is a slight worry about him coming back in trip. You could worry about the trip for Battleoverdoyen as well, as the Loughanmore point winner may well prosper over further in time, but he could easily have the class to win here on his first hurdles run. Significantly, he showed a good turn of foot for his Punchestown bumper victory last month and he could well be one of Gordon Elliott’s better novice hurdlers this season.

Another to note is Denise Foster’s Pike Country who has run to a good level on his only two hurdles starts, chasing home the Grade 2-placed Choungaya at Tipperary and then finishing sixth, when slightly impeded at a hurdle, in a good maiden hurdle won by Brace Yourself at Down Royal.

SELECTION: BATTLEOVERDOYEN

Next best Pike Country

12:30 NAVAN NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 2) 2M 4F

There isn’t much to choose between “Monksfield” Novice Hurdle first three (Easy Game, Magnium and Choungaya) who were split by just half a length over this course and distance last month. That was a Grade 3 contest so represents the best form on paper however, it is very much worth pointing out that Gordon Elliott’s Defi Bleu, who won a maiden hurdle over the same distance earlier on the card, actually clocked a near four second quicker time. Previously the Gigginstown horse had finished a good second to Brace Yourself at Down Royal and he has the scope to improve again.

Rhinestone is noted having won more comfortably than a short head winning margin suggested for his hurdles debut at Naas, however the runner-up there, Envious Editor, did let the form down at this track last week. Western Victory remains an interesting contender having beaten Getaway Katie Mai, who won at Tramore this week, on her hurdles bow at Galway. She was a non runner for both her previous engagements at this course so hopefully she gets to take her chance tomorrow.

Easy Game should emerge best out of the “Monksfield” trio, he came from the back of the pack in what was a slowly run race and the form of his previous run, a third to Quick Grabim and Triplicate at Tipperary, has been boosted by that pair finishing first and second in the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse.

SELECTION: DEFI BLEU

Next best Easy Game

1:00 TARA HANDICAP HURDLE (GRADE B)

This 22-runner €50,000 handicap hurdle is a real minefield with plenty of chances, in particular a number of horses potentially well treated coming back over hurdles. Ball D’Arc catches the eye for a number of reasons. Rated 157 over fences, he gets to run off a mark of 140 tomorrow returning to a discipline he did very well as a novice, recording three wins from eight runs and peaking his rating to 146.

Last season he improved to be just behind the top level in the two and the two-and-a-half mile chasing divisions and though disappointing when last seen in a Grade 2 event at Naas, he starts on a new slate now, and significantly has a decent record fresh - he was able to finish third to Disko and Ballyoisin in a Grade 2 contest first time up last term. It may be the case that Gordon Elliott has been waiting for soft ground with him (heavy rain forecast) and Patrick Vaughan takes the ride, his first in Ireland and his first over hurdles. Vaughan takes off a handy 7lbs and has plenty of experience on the flat in Britain, having ridden 20 winners when apprentice to David O’Meara.

There are a number of dangers, not least Elliott’s other runner, Dinaria Des Obeaux, who comes back over hurdles to race off an 11lb lower mark to her chase assessment. The Willie Mullins pair Orion D’Aubrelle and Calie Du Mesnil are both unexposed hurdlers that could easily improve.

Lastly, Walk To Freedom is very much respected on his win in the Proudstown Handicap Hurdle, a race in which he took the notable scalp of the extremely progressive De Name Escapes Me.

SELECTION: BALL D’ARC

Next best Walk To Freedom

1:30 JOHN LYNCH CARPETS MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 7F

There isn’t much between the profiles of Gigginstown-owned pair Diamond Turf and Denwork, the former trained by Gordon Elliott, the latter by Joseph O’Brien. Slight preference is for the Elliott runner, who bumped into a good one in First Approach at Down Royal when the ground might just have been too fast for him. He won his bumper on testing conditions on this track so the forecast rain should suit. Denwork won’t be far away after his good third to Defi Bleu and Momus, who could boost his form running earlier on this card.

SELECTION: DIAMOND TURF

Next best Denwork

2:05 FREE RACECOURSE WIFI RATED NOVICE 2M 4F

It might be worth taking a chance on Monotype for this rated novice chase, which represents something of a step down for him, given he had to take on the likes of Getabird and Discorama on his first three chase starts.

Paul Nolan’s six-year-old holds a rating of 132 over hurdles, so the ability is there if he can progress now on his fourth chase start and he is also a course winner at Navan.

Sir Carno showed improvement from his first start over fences to finish second to Game Of War at Thurles while Noel Meade’s He’s No Molly is another interesting contender on his chasing debut, coming off two wins over hurdles.

SELECTION: MONOTYPE

Next best He’s No Molly

2:35 NAVANADVENTURESPORTS.IE HANDICAP 2M 4F

This doesn’t look the strongest event and Allee Bleue sticks out like a sore thumb. The eight-year-old makes his debut for Gordon Elliott, having previously been trained by Philip Hobbs.

His chase mark is 115 after he struggled to get much going over fences last season but his yard’s poor run of form was very well documented. Couple that with the fact that he has a profile which his new trainer does so well with and the fact that his chase mark is 11lb lower than his hurdles rating and you could have a very well handicapped horse.

Elsewhere both Uaintseenothingyet and Danse Away are open to improvement over fences, as is Bitsandpieces who produced the best of his three starts over fences last time out at Clonmel.

SELECTION: ALLEE BLEUE

Next best Bitsandpieces

3:10 FUTURE CHAMPIONS INH FLAT RACE 2M

Well Set Up shouldn’t be discounted here, especially given the mare she beat at Down Royal in her bumper last January, came out and won just this week at Tramore.

That said, Envoi Allen showed his potential when the penny dropped for his bumper win at Fairyhouse and with that experience, he could show a lot more tomorrow.

He also proved he can handle a race turning into a sprint and the likely softer ground should also help.

SELECTION: ENVOI ALLEN

Next best Well Set Up