Kevin Blake

2:20 CASEY BROS SUPPORTING THEIR LOCAL RACECOURSE BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 3F

Maiden chases will become a lot stronger than this in the weeks ahead and this represents a good opportunity for the Paul Nolan-trained Illtakeitfromhere to get off the mark over the fences before the big guns start to reappear. The six-year-old is only rated 108 over hurdles, but he made an encouraging chasing debut at Sligo earlier this month, finishing second to It’s All An Act. If he can improve on that effort, he will be tough to beat. The best of the rest could well be the Aidan Fogarty-trained Ballinard Billy, with him having registered a career-best effort in a similar contest at Tipperary last time.

Selection: ILLTAKEITFROMHERE

Next Best: Ballinard Billy

2:50 CASEY PRECAST HANDICAP CHASE 2M 3F

A competitive handicap chase and preference is given to the Mouse Morris-trained Call Rog. The six-year-old came good over fences when winning a novice contest at Sligo last time and with his mark over the larger obstacles being 5lb lower than his mark over hurdles, it wouldn’t surprise to see him make a winning handicap chase debut. The pick of the remainder could well be the Arthur Moore-trained Mitebeall Forluck with him having been acquitting himself well in similar contests of late.

Selection: CALL ROG

Next Best: Mitebeall Forluck

3:25 CASEY CONCRETE BLOCKS MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 4F

Just an average maiden hurdle and it might be worth taking a chance on the Harry Kelly-trained Railway Rule on his hurdling debut. The four-year-old ran consistently well in all four of his starts in bumpers and was arguably an unlucky loser on his latest outing at Killarney having suffered significant interference inside the final furlong. The one he very much has to beat is the Gordon Elliott-trained Halling’s Treasure, with the four-year-old having established a solid level of form over hurdles last season.

Selection: RAILWAY RULE

Next Best: Halling’s Treasure

4:00 CASEY TARMACADAM MARES HURDLE 2M 4F

This represents an excellent opportunity for the Robert Tyner-trained Byerley Babe to make a winning return to action. The seven-year-old won a Grade 2 mares’ novice chase last season and had previously shown plenty of ability over hurdles. While she is probably a better chaser than hurdler, she will still take all the beating over the smaller obstacles in this company. The main danger to her is the John Byrne-trained Urtheoneiwant, with her having gone close in a similar contest at Navan in September.

Selection: BYERLEY BABE

Next Best: Urtheoneiwant

4:35 CASEY CONCRETE GOREY HANDICAP HURDLE (80-102) 2M 4F

Arguably the trickiest race on the card and a chance is taken on the Charles Byrnes-trained Lite Duties. The five-year-old almost made a winning handicap hurdle debut at Limerick in April, but was touched off by Sarah Battle. He is likely to have needed the run on his return to action at Tipperary earlier this month and market support for him would be very encouraging. A solid alternative to the selection is the Tom Nagle-trained The Bold Beckey with her coming into this race in fine form.

Selection: LITE DUTIES

Next Best: The Bold Beckey

5:10 CASEY CATTLE SLATS HANDICAP HURDLE (80-95) 2M

Another competitive handicap hurdle to sink the teeth into and the one that makes the most appeal is the Eoin McCarthy-trained The Fitz Lady. The seven-year-old is a 16-race maiden over hurdles, but there was sufficient promise in her most recent third to It’s All An Act at Punchestown to suggest she can make the breakthrough in this. Of her rivals, the Peter McCreery-trained Graney Town made an encouraging handicap hurdle debut at Gowran Park last time and could improve enough to go close.

Selection: THE FITZ LADY

Next Best: Graney Town

5:40 CASEY CONCRETE NEW ROSS MARES (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

The Willie Mullins juggernaut is starting to roll through the gears and he looks to have excellent prospects of taking this contest with Captain Carol. The four-year-old made a promising debut at Roscommon in September, just finding Fill Your Hands a length too good for her, and with normal improvement she will be very difficult to beat. She faces a solid rival in the shape of the Robert Tyner-trained Table Tips, but while she is likely to run well, she is vulnerable to an improver such as the selection.

Selection: CAPTAIN CAROL

Next Best: Table Tips