Ryan McElligott

2.05 CORK STAKES (LISTED) 6F

Gymkhana looked a smart recruit for Ger Lyons when landing a competitive 6f handicap at Naas last week. He is stepping up markedly in grade but the manner in which that Naas victory was achieved suggested that he was well worth his place.

Downforce progressed well last season and ended his campaign in the manner of one who would be quite at home in stakes company this season. He will enjoy the ground, he won first time out last season and he ended 2016 with a fine third to Sovereign Debt in the Listed Knockaire Stakes at Leopardstown.

Spirit Quartz notched up two listed wins in Ireland last season. He comes here fit following a spell in Meydan and deserves every consideration on this ground.

Selection: GYMKHANA

Next best: Downforce

2.35 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF MAIDEN 5F

This looks a good opportunity for Son Of Rest to get off the mark after decent runs as a juvenile. On his debut, the Pivotal colt was turned over at odds-on by Latin Beat in a 7f maiden at Tipperary but he looked to step forward from that when finishing a 6¼l fourth to Churchill in the National Stakes in September.

Knowing You is an interesting newcomer as a daughter of Pivotal out of a high-class multiple Group 3-winning mare who enjoyed soft ground.

Catamaran is another to note as a daughter of Shamardal and the classy sprinter Katla. Souls In The Wind comes here fit from a spell in Dubai where he showed definite promise.

Selection: SON OF REST

Next best: Knowing You

3.10 TICKET SALES ONLINE @CORKRACECOURSE.IE MAIDEN 7F

Shamad could be worth taking a chance on as he showed definite promise last season. He was beaten just under 6l into fifth by Utah in a 1m Curragh maiden that has produced a number of subsequent winners and several stakes performers.

Venezuela looks the one to beat, particularly with his yard having made an impressive start to the season. This Galileo colt ran just once last year, when finishing a ½l second to Eagle Spirit in a 1m Leopardstown maiden in June. Pecheurs De Perles looks the pick of the others having shown promise in two starts at Dundalk late last year.

Selection: SHAMAD

Next best: Venezuela

3.45 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK FILLIES MAIDEN 1M 100YDS

Dabulena is one of several interesting newcomers and she gets the vote. This daughter of Siyouni is a half-sister to the very useful middle distance runner Dabadiyan and she holds an entry in the Group 3 Athasi Stakes next month.

Set In Stone progressed well from her debut to finish second to Zelaniya in a 1m maiden on testing ground at Gowran last October. Furiosa looked to take a major step forward on her final start last year when taking fourth in a Leopardstown maiden won by White Satin Dancer. She too lines up with credible claims.

Mollie The Moo is from another stable to have started the season quickly and she is a half-sister to a Grade 3-placed runner in America.

Selection: DABULENA

Next best: Set In Stone

4.20 EASTER FESTIVAL APRIL 15th-17th RATED RACE 1M 100YDS

Zelaniya could notch up her second success. She won a mile maiden at Gowran on testing ground last October and she should appreciate the return to this trip following her third to Gino Severini in the Madrid Handicap at Naas last Sunday.

That Naas run gives the daughter of Lawman a clear edge over the fifth-placed Hansian Prince and Elusive Beauty who finished a place further back.

Three Jacks struggled at listed level on his final start last year but he won a 1m 1f maiden at Tipperary on soft to heavy ground. He also showed up well in a Curragh maiden and he looks to be lining up with a solid chance.

Elusive Beauty isn’t one to underestimate as she did not have the run of the race at Naas last week.

Selection: ZELANIYA

Next best: Three Jacks

4.55 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER APPRENTICE HANDICAP 1M 100YDS

Ecoeye should mount a strong challenge for victory. This gelding is a very reliable sort on soft ground with a string of decent efforts last season. He is only 5lbs higher than when winning at Roscommon last summer and is unfortunate to have recorded just the one success in 2016. His best form is over 7f but he has yet to tackle this distance under his optimum conditions.

The Navan maiden winner Balcony looked quite unlucky on her final start last season when finishing a close fifth to Round Two in a fair 1m handicap at Limerick. Bainne, a winner over 1m at the Curragh back in the autumn, could be quite dangerous, having shown signs of a return to form at Dundalk last month.

Selection: ECOEYE

Next best: Balcony

5.25 MALLOW HANDICAP (45-65) 1M 100YDS

This could fall to Bouquet Garni, whose efforts last season suggested that she would be more than capable of making her mark at this level. She ended 2016 with a couple of respectable efforts at Dundalk but earlier in the autumn she was placed in a succession of nurseries on soft ground.

Future Frontier finished behind Bouquet Garni on a couple of their meetings but didn’t run at all badly on either occasion.

Boom Or Bush showed up well in a Down Royal nursery last September and could be another to consider.

Selection: BOUQUET GARNI

Next best: Future Frontier