Alan Hewison

2.15 KEEPING IT COUNTRY CONCERT AFTER RACING WITH RICHIE REMO MAIDEN HURDLE 2M2F 165YDS

Iolani ran out a decisive winner of a bumper here in May on good ground and was by no means disgraced at Bellewstown when giving away lumps of weight. He can now make a winning start over hurdles, chiefly at the expense of the Gordon Elliott-trained Skeaping, who finished a clear second to a potentially smart type at Ballinrobe last month and has been only narrowly beaten since at Perth.

Field Robin has had plenty of chances over hurdles, twice been placed in maidens here this summer, and again holds place claims but no more than that, while Joseph O’Brien’s team is going so well that it would be no surprise if the talented flat performer Unicorn improved markedly on his previous two hurdling efforts.

Selection: IOLANI

Next best: Skeaping

2.45 BALLOO HIRE CENTRES RATED HURDLE 2M2F 165YDS

Andratx is in rude health and comes here seeking a five-timer, two of those four wins coming at this venue on good ground. Mark McNiff’s four-year-old exploited a lenient flat mark at Galway 10 days ago and, although now competing off a 13lb higher mark than his last win here, he could well improve again to cope with more seasoned performers.

Timi Roli could prove the chief threat, an emphatic all-the-way winner of a 2m4f Tipperary maiden last month, it was certainly no disgrace to chase home the potentially high-class Le Richebourg at Killarney and he sits in nicely here on a mark of 123. Top-weight Time For Mabel shaped well on the flat last time and his previous Killarney fourth puts him in the picture.

Selection: ANDRATX

Next best: Timi Roli

3.15 IVY BAR NEWTOWNARDS HANDICAP HURDLE 2M2F 165YDS

A tricky handicap to decipher but it could pay to take a chance on the in-foal Bell Of The Ball, 5lb higher than when winning over course and distance in June, a rise now negated by the talented Barry Browne’s 7lb claim.

Bective Cave’s sequence came to an end at Roscommon when a mistake three from home effectively ended his chance so is certainly not one to discount although he ideally wants it a bit softer.

Last year’ winner Aurora’s Dream runs off a 2lb lower mark but comes here in moderate form, while Tony Martin’s Toor Legend has little to recommend in maidens but market support here on his handicap debut could prove significant in a race which may not take too much winning.

Selection: Bell Of The Ball

Next best: Bective Cave

3.50 ‘’EVERYONE LOVES DOWNPATRICK’’ MARES HANDICAP HURDLE 2M5F 165YDS

Sharlanda can lend further support to those lobbying for the declaration of in-foal mares. In foal to Ol Man River, the daughter of Choisir was an impressive winner of a Limerick mares’ beginners’ chase last month, having won over hurdles at Gowran the previous month.

Colin Bowe is confident of her staying this longer trip, and on ground she favours could prove the one to beat. She faces stiff competition mind, headed by last month’s 2m3f maiden winner here Blixit, who should relish this longer trip, and recent Bangor winner Pat’s Pearl, twice runner-up at this venue in recent months,

Selection: SHARLANDA

Next best: Blixit

4.25 ARMSTRONG SURFACING MAIDEN HURDLE 2M5F 165YDS

A disappointing turnout and seemingly a good opportunity for Mountain Rock, a smart bumper performer who finished a creditable eighth in the Cheltenham Festival Bumper and who seemed to find the 2m trip inadequate when second to Knockmaole Boy in a Down Royal maiden hurdle in June. Second since to the smart Sandymount Duke in an amateur flat maiden at Leopardstown, the selection has ground to suit and probably won’t find a better opportunity.

Mischevious Max, narrowly beaten in a Limerick maiden last time, looks the main danger, while course bumper winner Scotch Beg should build on her initial hurdles outing here last month.

Selection: MOUNTAIN ROCK

Next best: Mischevious Max

4.55 MOLSON COORS HANDICAP HURDLE 2M5F 165YDS

The Trigger has been making hay at a modest level over fences of late, with wins at Killarney and Stratford, and looks interesting now back over hurdles off a considerably lower mark, some 19lb below his revised chase figure, although he is also down to run at Kilbeggan on Saturday evening.

In his absence it could be wise to side with recent course and distance winner Better Back Bob, who is taken to confirm form with Tranquil Magic.

Celtic Monarch was a withdrawal on account of the quicker ground at Sligo on Thursday so would need rain to maximise his chances.

Selection: THE TRIGGER

Next best: Better Back Bob

5.25 ‘’YOUR NAME HERE’’ FLAT RACE 2M2F 165YDS

Special Ted has been a beaten short-priced favourite on his last two starts but is taken to make it third time lucky and provide a first and last race double for connections.

Slippery Serpent has had plenty of chances, finishing second on his last two outings over 2m4f, and is now dropped slightly in trip and rates the main danger, along with Gordon Elliott’s Cornakill Rose, second to a stablemate of the selection at Ballinrobe on what was only her second start and possibly open to the greater improvement of the three.

Selection: SPECIAL TED

Next best: Cornakill Rose