1.25 Topgear At Capital Stud Irish EBF Maiden 5f

Robson de Aguiar has a strong hand as he bids to win this race in his own name, having previously been instrumental in the training of the last three winners by Adrian Murray, they being the subsequently top-class Power Blue, Arizona Blaze and Bucanero Fuerte.

David Egan makes the trip over to partner €130,000 yearling Force Noir today, as he bids to give Amo’s Tally-Ho Stud-based sire Persian Force a perfect start at stud. If he does, history suggests there’ll be big things to come from this colt.

Stablemates Bull Shark, Ballinea Star and What A Girl Wants all have attractive pedigrees, with the latter two bred to enjoy a cut in the ground.

There are plenty of positives in their rivals’ pedigrees, too – 90,000gns buy Equus Victor is closely related to a stakes horse, Granite Mountain is a cheaply-bought half-brother to Rajasinghe and Ruler’s Control is by Territories, whose progeny like to get their toe in.

SELECTION: FORCE NOIR

Next Best: What A Girl Wants

2.00 Nua CLaD Hub Irish EBF Maiden 6f

A number of these have shown promise, including the well-related Contrary To Law, who drops down to six furlongs on his first start for Johnny Murtagh. The Night Of Thunder colt dons a hood, having run well despite racing keenly in hot maidens over seven furlongs last season, with group performers coming out of both races since.

The maidens that Breaking Dawn finished fourth in lacked the same form, but first-time cheekpieces and drop in trip may bring improvement.

A switch to turf hopes to bring the necessary improvement from Fate’s Gambit, who was well-backed on both starts at Dundalk. Narrowly denied on debut, he has to bounce back from a disappointing effort last month.

Aboveheronlysky made a promising debut behind two horses subsequently rated in the 80s, but has been off the track for 18 months since.

Ballydoyle newcomer Monmouth is more of an unknown, but Ryan Moore’s mount is bred to be special, the Kingman colt hailing from the family of Invincible Spirit, Kodiac and Nayarra.

SELECTION: CONTRARY TO LAW

Next Best: Monmouth

2.35 Nua’s Mobile Sensory Units Handicap 6f

Coming here fit from Dundalk is last year’s third Tai Tam Bay, who looks particularly attractive off a career-low mark. The similarly-fit Go Out is interesting on turf debut, being by a sire who won the Haydock Sprint Cup on soft, and he’s also a half-brother to a soft-ground Group 1 winner.

Merisi Diamond likes soft ground and can run well fresh – he won over course and distance at this meeting two years ago. Now with Thomas Coyle, he’s down to a rating of 72; his last win came when rated 79.

Mickey The Steel is down to a low mark and enjoys softer ground but as an eight-year-old, he may be best watched on his first start of the season. The ground is an unknown for Dundalk maiden winner Two And Two, who makes her handicap debut off 75. This will be a big ask for a three-year-old filly against seasoned handicappers.

SELECTION: TAI TAM BAY

Next Best: Go Out

3.10 Nua’s Canine Therapy Handicap 6f

A case can be made for a number of talented sprinters in this €35,000 contest, including last year’s unlucky second Love Billy Boy. He flew home after a troubled passage to be beaten a neck, and while he’s now 9lb higher in the weights, he went close off this mark on Derby day.

Go Athletico and Stag Night are also both on workable marks, but the talented eight-year-olds may come on from their first start of the season. The nine-year-old Real Force is useful, but his inconsistency and just eight starts over the last three seasons suggest he’s not the most straightforward horse.

Unique Journey’s progression is reflected in a career-high mark of 98, making Sarahmae a more appealing improve off her mark of 89.

Fourth in two premier handicaps here last season, Denis Hogan’s mare could take another step forward as a four-year-old.

In a similar vein, Dmaniacshowed his true colours here when getting his preferred ground at the end of last season, but the 9lb hike looked harsh, plus he’s now without his 3lb claimer.

SELECTION: LOVE BILLY BOY

Next Best: Sarahmae

3.45 Mental Health Matters Fillies & Mares Maiden 7f

Signora chased home subsequent group winners Lady Iman and Green Sense in a Group 3 sprint on debut last season, which saw her sent off favourite for the Albany Stakes next time out.

She may have found the ground too quick that day and should also appreciate this step up in trip, being by Frankel, out of Queen Mary Stakes heroine Heartache.

Fellow Coolmore homebred Feel The Love is worth noting in the market, as a half-sister to the yard’s dual Group 1 winner Fancy Blue. Acanto, representing Champion Bumper winners Noel Meader and Colin Keane, is another newcomer with a notable pedigree.

Girl Bear and Pollenca both made promising debuts, but the latter makes more appeal, given how the races have worked out. Rocket Robyn is another for the shortlist based on her penultimate run, when she was beaten just a head on heavy ground, albeit over nine and a half furlongs.

SELECTION: SIGNORA

Next Best: Pollenca

4.20 Nua Healthcare Irish Lincolnshire 1m

Orandi is rated 6lb higher than he was when he won this 12 months ago, but considering how close he went in the English Lincoln (beaten a neck) off 1lb lower, he may still be on a workable mark now.

Ryan Moore is another plus, as is the booking of Oisin Murphy for Richard Hughes’ raider Whip Cracker. The five-year-old’s sole win came in October 2023, but he’s run well since in competitive handicaps, including when coming off a break.

Andy Slattery was full of praise for Eastwatch when he won at Gowran last June, revealing expectations of further improvement with time.

However, the four-year-old has plenty of weight to carry and may be seen to better effect over further.

A number of these appear to be in the grips of the handicapper, with no obvious factors suggesting further improvement. A first-time tonguestrap could bring improvement from Perry Mason, who went from strength to strength for Maurice Ahern last season, culminating in a premier handicap second over course and distance.

Crypto Force is an interesting prospect as he drops down in trip, at a mark of 91. A Group 2 winner over course and distance as a juvenile, he could outrun his big odds if handling the ground.

SELECTION: ORANDI

Next Best: Perry Mason

4.55 Final Furlong Podcast With 1xBet.ie (C & G) Maiden 1m

There are plenty of unknowns here, with the market providing perhaps the most informed pointers.

Ryan Moore sides with Ballydoyle’s well-bred Wootton Bassett colt Scientific, but Shaftesbury Avenue is a half-brother to a Grade 1 winner and cost $1 million as a yearling. Aga Khan homebred Zelani is another well-related newcomer of note.

Joseph O’Brien’s pair are both worth considering, too. Power Strike is expected to come on from last month’s debut at Dundalk, but tentative preference is for Kenough, who won a barrier trial at Leopardstown in August, with the second since scoring under rules.

Of those with experience, Navinsky makes the most appeal, having been headed close home after racing prominently over 10 furlongs on his second and most recent start.

With a tonguestrap now employed, the Zarak gelding should appreciate this drop back in trip.

SELECTION: SCIENTIFIC

Next Best: Kenough

5.30 1xBet.ie Supporting Irish Racing Handicap 1m

Kakori entered the notebook on handicap debut in October, when she finished best of those at the back of the field over seven-furlongs at Gowran Park. She remains on the same mark and the way in which she finished last time out suggests she’ll appreciate this return to a mile.

La Tulipe Noire ran well off 3lb lower here in November, and, with Jessica O’Gorman’s claim, she returns with a strong chance of gaining her third win under this rider. Captain Ciano is another for the shortlist, having run well last month at Dundalk following 10 months off the track, and should take another step forward here.

SELECTION: KAKORI

Next Best: Captain Ciano