4:50 BELLEWSTOWN GOLF COURSE HURDLE 2M 4F
Tigris River should be able to win this, given the weights are in his favour. Joseph O’Brien’s horse is joint top rated in the six-runner field but will receive weight from his main rivals Marinero and Automated.
He was seriously impressive when winning on the flat at the Curragh on his previous run and the assumption is that he’ll head for the Galway Hurdle, which he finished an excellent fourth in last season, after this race.
Automated demands respect given his easy win on the flat at Leopardstown previously but Marinero is officially better treated than him for this race and Henry de Bromhead’s five-year-old looked in good order when chasing home Rashaan at Down Royal on his previous run.
Selection: TIGRIS RIVER
Next best: Marinero
5:20 ADARE MANOR OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 1) 2M 4F
It’s difficult to get a hand on this contest and so a tentative vote is given to Graney Town. Peter McCreery’s eight-year-old is fully exposed and had been running poorly until his previous run where he finished a respectable fifth at Down Royal, beaten just over seven lengths by Station Closed.
That may well have signalled a return to form and if that is the case, he can go well in this weak contest, off a mark he has scored off before.
Cantkidakidder gets the second vote.
He hasn’t been doing anything special but he has at least got competitive on his previous three runs and he may be able to go closer now with the promising Brien Kane on his back again.
Selection: GRANEY TOWN
Next best: Cantkidakidder
5:50 ADARE MANOR OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP HURDLE (DIV 2) 2M4F
Redmond Hill gets the vote. The five-year-old is having just his seventh ever start here and significantly comes into this off his best ever effort – finishing a two-and-a-half length third to Soul Season at Wexford. He should improve again and if so, he could prove a tough nut to crack.
Gordon Elliott’s Steamboat Quay will have plenty of supporters. He fell at the sixth hurdle when favourite for his previous run at Down Royal but previously looked progressive, filling the runner-up spot at Fairyhouse and Clonmel.
Selection: REDMOND HILL
Next best: Steamboat Quay
6:20 TIERNEY KITCHENS BALBRIGGAN MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 160Y
This may play out between the top two - Joseph O’Brien’s Aeglos and Willie Mullins’s Herminio. Slight preference is for the latter mentioned, who has the advantage of a recent run at Wexford where he finished a respectable second to Denham Sound. A multiple winner on the flat in France, his Wexford run was just his third start over hurdles and for Willie Mullins so he has the scope to improve.
Aeglos looked a horse to follow when winning his bumper at Leopardstown on St Stephen’s Day but he has only run once since - when last of seven in a listed novice hurdle won by Mick Jazz at Punchestown in February. He may just need this run now.
Selection: HERMINIO
Next best: Aeglos
6:50 FAST SHIPPING BELLEWSTOWN HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 160Y
Timiyan was put up 6lbs for his short-head win over Roachdale House on his previous run, but he may be able to improve further for Gordon Elliott. That was his first run in seven months, just his fifth run over hurdles and just his second for Elliott, having joined the Meath trainer from Dermot Weld. He has serious scope to improve now and looks even better-treated when you take into account his flat rating which is 100, and he races off 125 over hurdles today.
There are a few dangers including Jarob, who has won around this course before and Tudor City who promises much more off this sort of mark but the second vote goes to Jessica Harrington’s Light That. He finished second to Western Boy at the Punchestown
Festival and though disappointing on his next hurdles start at Killarney, he has shown his well-being with two good runs on the flat since, including a win at Ballinrobe recently.
Selection: TIMIYAN
Next best: Light That
7:20 WESTERN MOTORS SKODA MAIDEN HURDLE 3M
Go Another One has some nice form in the book and he can win over hurdles on the second time of asking.
John McConnell’s horse was a good bumper horse and made light work of a near nine-month absence when performing really well to finish fourth to Fayonagh in the Punchestown Champion Bumper.
His first effort over hurdles, finishing second to Mr Showtime at Limerick, was fine and he can build on that here with the step up in trip not a worry.
Gordon Elliott’s Its All Guesswork gets 8lbs off the selection and he should run well.
He has finished second on his previous two starts, both in bumpers, and is having his second start over hurdles today.
Selection: GO ANOTHER ONE
Next best: Its All Guesswork
7:50 SEAN ROTHWELL CONSTRUCTION HANDICAP HURDLE
Gordon Elliott has done a terrific job with Station Closed who hadn’t won in 17 starts prior to joining Cullentra Stables but now has won three times in her previous four runs. It means the nine-year-old mare is up to a mark of 99 so she may just be vulnerable to an improving younger horse in this 16-runner handicap.
That could be Enda Bolger’s Up For Discussion. The six-year-old gelding has some uninspiring form figures but was running a big race before falling on his handicap debut at Roscommon on his latest start and he could be well-treated now off a mark of 106.
Selection: UP FOR DISCUSSION
Next best: Station Closed
8:20 MCLOUGHLIN OIL FLAT RACE 2M 160Y
This is a useful-looking bumper and it can go to Joseph O’Brien’s Tower Bridge. The JP McManus-owned son of High Chaparral backed up a good debut run at the Punchestown Festival with a win at Ballinrobe - turning over a Willie Mullins-trained favourite in Special Ted.
That runner had previously run well behind Noel Meade’s Red Jack on his debut at Fairyhouse so it looks like smart form. Iolani, represents Mullins this time, and is another coming into this off a breakthrough win but Dalouga, representing Gordon Elliott, may give most trouble to the selection. She has finished second on her only two runs, both in mares’ bumpers, and though against the geldings now she receives lots of weight in return.
Selection: TOWER BRIDGE
Next best: Dalouga