5.15 Dickie McGuinness Novice Hurdle 2m1f

Conceding 10lb to most of the field isn’t ideal but Punchestown Festival winner Beauvallon might just have been handed a good opportunity to notch his third straight win over hurdles. He appears to be ground-versatile and an official rating of 133 looks a fair standard for a four-year-old novice event at this time of year.

Karlynn bolted up in a weaker maiden hurdle than this at Wexford last time and has a 6lb penalty as a result. He is going the right way, though. Mino Des Mottes has joined Gordon Elliott from Willie Mullins and a reproduction of the promise he hinted at in winter maiden hurdles would make him a player. Puppet Master hasn’t caught fire on his first two starts for new connections but he does have some back class as a listed winner on the flat, if putting it all together.

SELECTION: BEAUVALLON

Next best: Mino Des Mottes

5.48 Grimme Ireland Maiden Hurdle 2m 1f

Bumper winner Press The Button stayed on well enough for second behind a ready winner at Ballinrobe five and a half weeks ago, pulling 10 lengths clear of the third. He now has cheekpieces added for the first time and doesn’t appear to be in red-hot company, albeit he has to carry a penalty for his bumper success.

Hopeful Hero has been hitting the crossbar and certainly has the ability to win races like this if able to deliver his best. Form figures of 232233 mean win-only punters have been stung plenty when rowing in behind him, though. Highland Realm was only just touched off in a Tramore bumper on debut back in August and was 2/5 favourite on that occasion. Wackestone has two ways of running but did show some spark when third in the hands of Paul Callaghan behind San Andreas in a charity race at the Curragh last week.

SELECTION: PRESS THE BUTTON

Next best: Hopeful Hero

6.18 Street Sweep Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f

An excellent opportunity for this field to have a shot at a €60,000 pot. Fiver Friday was reportedly struck into behind when finishing down the field in the Ulster Oaks a fortnight ago but her previous trajectory of a premier handicap win on the flat, a course-and-distance hurdles win and another premier handicap fourth at the Curragh tell you the sort of form and consistency she’s capable of. Yes, more is required off 11lb higher than her previous hurdles victory, but she bolted up then and isn’t overly exposed for her new yard. Decent ground suits her well.

Putapoundinthejar looks capable of winning a handicap hurdle off this type of mark but didn’t appear to have loads of excuses when third to today’s respected rivals Spy and Becasse in a Listowel handicap hurdle 33 days ago, although he had faced a couple of tough battles in the previous weeks. He’s now back at the scene of his latest win on the flat. The in-form Malbay Madness needs to take another step forward but can’t be dismissed lightly. If Stuntman Steve puts it all together in the first-time blinkers, now back hurdling, he’ll be a force.

SELECTION: FIVER FRIDAY

Next best: Stuntman Steve

6.48 Johnny’s Race Day Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f 110yd

Riverwoods finished second in a maiden hurdle around this time last year and made a respectable comeback when third in a Tramore bumper five weeks ago, having been off for 264 days beforehand. With natural improvement on the cards, and stepping up to this trip for the first time a potential trigger for progression, she’s worth a tentative nod for the Henry de Bromhead team.

Star Of Idaho is another representing top connections and finished fourth on her Wexford bumper bow seven weeks ago. She was easy enough to back on that occasion (SP 9/2), however. Ardeen Joy was safely held at Downpatrick last time but could win a weak mares’ maiden hurdle, while Chisel Hill showed improvement when second at Limerick last time.

SELECTION: RIVERWOODS

Next best: Star Of Idaho

7.18 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 110yd

An 8lb rise for winning at Downpatrick last month will be a new challenge for Georginas Jet, but she did win by 10 lengths there and has a couple of pounds claimed off her back now that wasn’t in play then. Dry conditions appear to play to her strengths and the return to this distance isn’t an obvious negative. She gets the nod while in such good form.

It was an unplaced maiden hurdle that Codger’s Rock finished second in last time, but that was a definite forward step for him and he’s not out of the equation in first-time cheekpieces here. The third from that Kilbeggan event has won a maiden hurdle since too. Hitthehayson bumped into a well-handicapped winner at Downpatrick last time and should be on the premises.

SELECTION: GEORGINAS JET

Next best: Codger’s Rock

7.48 QuinnBet Bellewstown Handicap Hurdle 3m 116yd

His recent form isn’t enough to recommend him but stepping up to three miles could bring out something different in Justatan, who started his career with two wins in point-to-points before spending 575 days on the sidelines. There was a flicker of promise in his first couple of maiden hurdle runs and he also tries much better ground now than when down the field at Naas in January. He’s a slight shot in the dark and will be worth a market check, now down to a rating of 100 for Emmet Mullins.

Burning Ability took advantage of a final-flight faller to win at Listowel last time He at least has some upside to him in this sphere. Mephisto is a danger if back to his best, and he will be fit from the flat, Jisco Du Brem has his confidence raised from a recent Ballinrobe strike and last-time-out La Touche Cup second Outside The Door is a guaranteed stayer who will relish conditions.

SELECTION: JUSTATAN

Next best: Outside The Door

8.18 J.H. McLoughlin Oil INH Flat Race 2m 1f

Four previous bumper winners in the line-up and Punchestown scorer Dee Bee Zed just about gets the nod. He’s got a smart flat background, which can be an effective tool for bumpers on decent ground at this time of year, and won well on debut. The third from that race, Sir Vinny, was probably inconvenienced by the winner getting first run on him last time and should get closer now, though he didn’t finish out strongly late on.

Fortysixnchange, who won at Wexford eight weeks ago for Gordon Elliott, is bred to be more of a flat candidate but did finish second in a two-and-a-half-mile point-to-point on debut (joined this team for £36,000 subsequently). Caman Hill is entitled to come forward from his recent return from a year off, while this looks a much deeper race than the one that Rokanako won last time. Kingside Lady recently cost €100,000 after a win between the flags and now debuts for John McConnell, who has won this race before.

SELECTION: DEE BEE ZED

Next best: Fortysixnchange