1.00 Lisburn And Castlereagh City Council 3-Y-O Hurdle 2m 1f

Contador looked a capable performer on the flat in France for Juddmonte and Francis Graffard, and he’s bound to have learned plenty from what he showed on his Punchestown hurdling bow for Gordon Elliott. He appeared to get a touch of stagefright and was knocked out of his rhythm early when showing some inexperience. He clearly has some improving to do from there. However, he’ll surely be well schooled coming here, he’s physically scopey enough to do this job and his stable has won six of the last 10 renewals of this, so perhaps connections would have been working back from this as a target.

Kenough also can be tidier than when he delivered on his hurdling debut in the same event at Punchestown - though he finished well in front of the selection and was smart on the flat. He’s got work to do tidying up his jumping and didn’t look a complete natural, but should be bang there with progress. Cite Florale is the only hurdles winner in the line-up. She made hard work of it at Killarney when lifted home by Darragh O’Keeffe, but did show a good attitude in the process.

SELECTION: CONTADOR

Next best: Kenough

1.30 Lough Construction Maiden Hurdle 2m 1f

Skerry Hill has a pretty big reputation in Cullentra and it’s not hard to see why, based on how he dispatched his rivals on all three starts (one point-to-point and two bumpers). He’s from a stable responsible for winning five of the last eight runnings of this maiden hurdle and looks head and shoulders above these on all known form.

Young Rebel hasn’t quite caught fire over hurdles to the level that might have been expected after his impressive bumper win. He’s possibly more of a handicap project, but he’s got the ability to give the selection most to think about. S T Hamo has been showing signs of improvement.

SELECTION: SKERRY HILL

Next best: Young Rebel

2.05 Kildress Plumbing

Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f

Claiming 5lb off top-weight Lazare De Star looks a shrewd move from the Elliott and Robcour team, especially utilising the services of capable conditional Eoghan Finegan. This Leopardstown Christmas Festival maiden hurdle winner, who bumped into Zeus Power at Navan before a listed second to yesterday’s winner Heads Up at Punchestown, possibly was over the top towards the end of his season when down the field on his final Easter appearance at Fairyhouse. If he’s progressed from his novice season, he might defy giving weight to all.

Lartigue Hurdle runner-up Ben Hur has the advantage of recent race fitness and remains lightly raced over hurdles (just four starts in this sphere).

Hopes Are High finished behind that rival at Listowel but can step forward from that, while Metamorpheus has been in excellent form of late and could have a say off a feather weight.

SELECTION: LAZARE DE STAR

Next best: Ben Hur

2.38 Start Your Racing TV Free Trial Now Handicap Chase 3m

Another 9lb nudge up the weights makes life tougher for Ladies Well, but she arrives here in the form of her life and she should be comfortable in these conditions as a hardened, fit campaigner. The nicely-bred four-time winner hails from a yard enjoying a season of all seasons, and she’s still only a six-year-old. This is admittedly a bigger test for her, though.

Antrim Coast will have had his confidence boosted by a recent win at Fairyhouse for Rory Devine. He’s 3lb higher now but a potentially greater challenge is the fact he has to shoulder top-weight. If back to the form of his Galway second, Drop A Threat will be in the thick of things.

SELECTION: LADIES WELL

Next best: Antrim Coast

3.50 Racing Post Chase

(Grade 2) 2m 3f 100yd

A Grade 1 winner at the Aintree Festival when last seen in the spring, Koktail Divin has a good opportunity to begin the 2026/’27 season on a winning note. On official ratings, he’s only 3lb in front of his nearest rival and must concede 7lb, so it’s not a cakewalk in that sense. However, he looks a classy model who can improve beyond his rating - and this mid-range trip might be what he ideally wants.

Jacob’s Ladder is the one who works out particularly favourably with the selection on official figures. He’s possibly better back at two miles, but he’s bound to enjoy these conditions and it looks a nice bracket of race for him. Stablemate Kala Conti has some smart chasing form but needs to bounce back from a fall at Aintree when last seen.

SELECTION: KOKTAIL DIVIN

Next best: Jacob’s Ladder

4.20 SIS, Proud Sponsors Of Irish Racing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m 1f

With Gordon Elliott having captured 11 of the last 13 editions of this race, it’s so tough to look beyond his sole representative, Uncle Pad. The Vadamos five-year-old joined Gigginstown for £310,000 after a debut point-to-point win for Terence O’Brien in February and has been spoken of favourably by his trainer.

Bravemans Call warrants respect for Eoin McCarthy. He’s now stacked two encouraging runs back-to-back in bumpers at Killarney and Listowel, stepping forward nicely when second to the promising Berkstar at the Harvest Festival. Newcomers Riversdale, Chaparro and Malpaso are among the other interesting candidates lurking.

SELECTION: UNCLE PAD

Next best: Bravemans Call