2.07 Tote Every Day’s A
Money Back Day Maiden Hurdle 2m 5f 185yd
On the back of a couple of fine recent efforts, the Josh Williamson-ridden He Can’t Dance could be winning this. It’s quite a while since he won his bumper at Navan but his runs when third to Timesareachanging in a maiden hurdle at the same venue in January, and when third again in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival early last month suggest that another success isn’t too far off.
His trainer Gordon Elliott also runs Gunnery Sergeant, the mount of Jack Kennedy. Perhaps he will have to improve on his runner-up finish in an unplaced maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last time to trouble his stable companion but might yet be second best.
Willie Mullins is also two-handed with Paul Townend riding Robertjames who will surely know his job ahead of his racecourse debut. There will be easier opportunities ahead for Lilac Lady who is having her first start since October.
SELECTION: HE CAN’T DANCE
Next best: Gunnery Sergeant
2.42 Hood McGowan Kirk
Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 185yd
On her debut for Gordon Elliott, Coppola went closest to gaining a first victory and perhaps she’ll get off the mark this time. She was running in only her second handicap hurdle when just losing out to the more battle-hardened Rockstown Girl at Down Royal on St Patrick’s Day and won’t need much more to go a place better off just a 3lb higher mark.
Let’s Go Mans was a narrow winner at Naas on his first start in a handicap hurdle at the beginning of the month and he’s up 7lb for that success over a couple of furlongs further.
The fourth-placed Marine Ranger takes him on again and might well have a chance of turning the form around over this shorter distance. Toor Moon has run well over fences here in the past and he’ll be suited by the drying ground, while the veteran Robindevidastar is a course and distance winner who ran his best race for some time at Clonmel four weeks ago.
SELECTION: COPPOLA
Next best: Marine Ranger
3.17 Billie And Bertie FitzGerald Memorial Handicap Hurdle 2m 1f 165yd
Coolboy Christy ran with promise on his first run in a handicap hurdle at Leopardstown at the start of the month and could be worth siding with. He came from off the pace to finish fourth behind Dee’s Lady that day, arguably his best run to date. Dunany Point was in action for the first time since October when down the field at Naas earlier this month, but he’s certainly better judged on his efforts on a sounder surface in the past, notably his success on good ground at Bellewstown last April. Gamigin would also be suited by drying conditions and he’s certainly better than he showed at Ayr last time.
Dairy Force was a soundly beaten joint-favourite on his first start for Gordon Elliott at Fairyhouse in early February. The ground won’t be as testing now and more can be expected.
SELECTION: COOLBOY CHRISTY
Next best: Dunany Point
3.52 Kevin Ross Bloodstock 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 185yd
Lough Nigara is in the form of his life and might be up to recording his third win of 2026. He scored a breakthrough success at Punchestown in January and then a last-gasp win at Thurles at the beginning of this month where he finished nicely clear of the fourth-placed Bergamasquo.
The latter was running in his first handicap hurdle that afternoon and might get closer this time with the added experience under his belt. Better Times was also making his handicap hurdle debut when in mid-division behind Dee’s Lady at Leopardstown four weeks ago and he too could go better this time.
Kanog Bay was a disappointing favourite last time but he was a good winner at Fairyhouse before that. Midleton Rare has shown very little since scoring at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day but he is reunited with Jack Kennedy for the first time since then.
SELECTION: LOUGH NIGARA
Next best: Better Times
4.27 Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase 3m 4f 120yd
The consistent Rexem should go well in a wide-open renewal of the day’s feature race. He won his bumper and maiden hurdle at the course back in 2022 and gained a fifth career win landing a claiming hurdle at Clonmel in October.
More recently, he’s run two nice races over fences at Musselburgh, going close when a narrow runner-up in a £50,000 handicap chase on New Year’s Day. Connections will be hoping that the ground continues to improve and perhaps he will put it up to Uncle Pat who has taken second spot himself on a couple of occasions of late, losing out to surprise winner My Immortal in a valuable race at Punchestown last time.
It’s two years since St Denis’s Well won over fences but he’s held his form well over hurdles and was runner-up to the much-improved Showurappreciation at Navan at the end of February.
The latter’s owner is represented by Slanagaibhgoleir, placed third and second respectively since winning his beginners’ chase at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day.
SELECTION: REXEM
Next best: Uncle Pat
5.00 Caherty Stables Beginners Chase 2m 3f 100yd
Strutter can begin to make up for lost time. He was starting out over fences and running for the first time since winning a handicap hurdle at the 2024 Limerick Christmas Festival when well down the field in an identical beginners’ chase, for horses rated 120 or less over hurdles at entry, won by Joyau De Thaix at Leopardstown at the beginning of this month.
Reported to have run “very fresh” on that occasion, he’s entitled to do better now and should be suited by the drop back in trip. Paul Townend rides. Find A Fortune was well in front of Strutter at Leopardstown and looks a big danger. That was also his first start over fences and he was up to winning over hurdles at Fairyhouse in mid-January.
Dee’s Lady, the most recent winner in the line-up, goes chasing after her handicap hurdle success at Leopardstown four weeks ago. Karafon has plenty of experience over fences and should be competitive at this level.
SELECTION: STRUTTER
Next best: Find A Fortune
5.30 Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase 2m 7f 150yd
The consistent Magic Sadler might have the edge. While an early casualty at Thurles in late January, his run earlier in the same month when second to I Walked The Line at Clonmel has a fair look to it. It’s a help that more recent outings in the point-to-point field have included all-the-way wins at Punchestown and Lismore.
Runner-up in this race a year ago, Cause For Comment was second again in a novice hunters’ chase at Tipperary in May but landed a first point-to-point success at Punchestown in early February.
West Of Idaho is chasing a hat-trick of wins after a couple of recent Tyrella successes, the latest of which saw him beat Lawful Ruler by a little over a length.
SELECTION: MAGIC SADLER
Next best: Cause For Comment