Ronan Groome

1:20 WWW.THURLESRACES.IE MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Jetez seems to have improved on each of his three starts over hurdles and he may not need to go much more to win this. Jessica Harrington’s horse holds respectable maiden hurdle form having finished second to Flawless Escape at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Last Man Standing has twice run well in maiden hurdles for Mouse Morris but hasn’t been seen since October. The Andrew Brooks-owned Force Of Forces is interesting having his first run for Willie Mullins but he will have to improve significantly on what he showed on his two runs for Venetia Williams. Pete So High looks the best of the four-year-olds and, in receipt of 8lbs from his elders, he should have a say for Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown.

Selection: JETEZ

Next best: Pete So High

1:50 W.T. O’GRADY MEMORIAL IRISH EBF NOVICE HURDLE 2M 6½F

This race is choc full of potentially classy novice hurdlers and whatever one of them comes out on top could well be worth following. Beyond The Law sets a decent standard. He emerged from the fog at Clonmel with an impressive advantage over Willie Mullins’ Draconien 10 days ago and is sent out again quickly by Mouse Morris. Both Articulum and Sympa Des Flos were also wide-margin winners when last seen but in both cases, it’s difficult to surmise exactly what they achieved.

Dom Dolo is course-and-distance winner, while both Burrows Saint and Dortmund Park are maiden hurdle winners stepping up in class but are representing the two big stables. However, it may be worth taking a chance on the Paul Nolan-trained Discorama, who was a surprise winner of his maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and then performed with credit behind Ex Patriot at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day.

For the latter run, he was competing off level weights with Ellmarie Holden’s solid 144-rated operator so it was a fair effort, with the fourth Indian Monsoon subsequently running well to give the form a boost. Like most of this field, Discorama is unexposed and open to improvement, especially coming up to this trip.

Selection: DISCORAMA

Next best: Beyond The Law

2:20 MATTY RYAN MEMORIAL HANDICAP HURDLE 2M

Cubomania is sure to be popular with punters having won on his two starts since joining Gordon Elliott’s stable. He looked to have a bit in hand on his previous run so a 9lb penalty may not stop him here with similar conditions likely.

Shower Cross was well backed at Limerick on St Stephen’s Day and he duly did the business in a maiden hurdle. He has an opening mark of 114 to defy but he has scope to improve over hurdles and he should put up a good show.

Rosie Alice is another worth mentioning. She ran third to Gracemount in a mares’ handicap hurdle on the same Limerick St Stephen’s Day card and that was a fair effort given it was her first run since the end of September. Charles Byrnes is in good form and if the ground was to dry out a little, the seven-year-old mare would hold solid claims.

Selection: CUBOMANIA

Next best: Rosie Alice

2:50 HORSE & JOCKEY HOTEL KINLOCH BRAE CHASE (GRADE 3) 2M 4F

The last two Gold Cup winners won this Grade 3 chase on their way to Cheltenham glory but the participants in this year’s renewal may struggle to continue the trend. With both Nambour and Arctic Skipper returning after long layoffs and Woodland Opera struggling out of novice company last time, it looks a match between A Toi Phil and American Tom. The tale of the tape depicts a solid 155-rated horse versus a potentially classy up-and-comer.

Preference is for the latter-mentioned. The Willie Mullins-trained, Susannah Ricci-owned seven-year-old is completely unexposed with just three runs over fences and coming up in trip. He performed with credit on his seasonal debut, finishing third behind a race-fit Ball D’Arc and Ordinary World in a Grade 3 at Naas and significantly he receives 8lbs from his main market rival.

That probably swings things in the five-year-old’s favour as, while A Toi Phil regularly produces mid-150 performances, he is always vulnerable to an unexposed type, as he was on his most recent start at Tramore behind the selection’s stablemate Bachasson.

Selection: AMERICAN TOM

Next best: A Toi Phil

3:20 COOLMORE NATIONAL HUNT SIRES IRISH EBF MARES NOVICE CHASE (GRADE 2) 2M 4F

It’s hard to get away from the claims of Dinaria Des Obeaux who has already shown herself well able to take advantage of the weight she receives in this type of contest.

Having shown she can hold her own at Grade 1 level when a highly respectable fourth to Death Duty in the Drinmore Chase, the five-year-old mare would be favourite for this contest even without the 7lbs she receives from her seven rivals. Her blip in the Grade 1 Neville Hotels Novice Chase last time can be excused as she was badly hampered by a faller and she looks set to score again back against her own sex.

Kate Appleby Shoes is unexposed and so could improve from her hard fought Limerick win to give the selection something to do. She handles really testing going so any rain would help. Miss Eyecatcher is perhaps a more solid option, even though she has 22 lengths to find with Dinaria Des Obeaux on their Clonmel meeting. She will, however, concede less weight to Gordon Elliott’s mare this time around and she has performed to a consistent level elsewhere over fences.

Selection: DINARIA DES OBEAUX

Next best: Miss Eyecatcher

3:50 EXIT 6 TO HORSE & JOCKEY HANDICAP CHASE 2M 5½F

Nothing leaps off the page in this handicap chase and so Teacher’s Pet, the top-weight, may be able to cash in. Philip Dempsey’s seven-year-old mare had shown good progress earlier this season and if none the worse for a fall in the Paddy Power Chase on her previous run, she can get involved at the business end.

Cappacurry Zak may be popular as he attained decent course form on his penultimate run and won in good style at Limerick last time, though with race conditions in his favour. He is vulnerable to an improving type.

The Gordon Elliott-trained pair Minella Till Dawn and Fire In His Eyes were both useful hurdlers and have scope to improve over fences, yet they have shown little over the larger obstacles so far. Head Turner, though well beaten on her first three chase starts, has not been disgraced, and perhaps she can go well off a mark of 108 for her handicap chase debut. The trip on soft ground is a concern but she is rated 10lbs lower than her hurdles mark and she shouldn’t be underestimated.

Selection: HEAD TURNER

Next best: Teacher’s Pet

4:20 ARCTIC TACK STUD HUNTERS CHASE 2M 7½F

Much of this race pends on the classy Foxrock who won here last year but is making his seasonal debut now and may lack for sharpness. Alan Fleming’s 10-year-old also has to concede weight all around and it might be too much to ask first time out.

Gilgamboa is closely matched with Venitien De Mai on their Down Royal meeting, and the latter may be able to turn the tables with Jamie Codd taking over in the saddle. Jim Dreaper’s nine-year-old made a slight mistake at the last, which may have proved decisive, and the step up in trip should suit him well as his best performance on the track, winning the 2016 Leinster National, came over three miles.

Selection: VENITIEN DE MAI

Next best: Gilgamboa