12.00 Tote Guarantee, Never Beaten By SP Hurdle 2m

This is the four-year-old-only event in which Teahupoo made a winning Irish debut back in 2021. Most of the interest this time revolves around Willie Mullins’ two French recruits, Macho Man (carrying the colours of Joe and Marie Donnelly) and Proactif (J.P. McManus). In his early-season stable tours, the champion trainer outlined his hopes that both could make into Triumph Hurdle contenders, and the pair arrived from Auteuil debut victories with big reputations. A tentative vote goes to Paul Townend’s mount, Macho Man, who is priced up at 14/1 for the Triumph - the same odds as is the case for Proactif.

Munsif made an encouraging stable debut for Charles Byrnes when third in a Leopardstown Christmas Festival maiden hurdle and looks a likely improver, though he may end up being more of a Fred Winter contender than out-and-out Triumph material. Quinta Do Lago wasn’t disgraced in a Grade 2 at Leopardstown 15 days ago, but needs to bounce back in order to lower some highly-regarded colours here.

SELECTION: MACHO MAN

Next best: Proactif

12.30 Download The Tote App Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 2f 85yd

Champion Bumper heroine Bambino Fever bumped into a talented, race-fit rival when second on her hurdling bow at Naas 26 days ago, but can go one better now. She didn’t do much wrong on that occasion and the stable was going through a quieter than usual period when she was beaten then.

It was a likeable debut effort from Alliteration when winning a Galway bumper in October and she’s a nice prospect for the future. Whether she’s sharp enough to give such a high-class rival a scare, especially when this is her first hurdles outing, remains to be seen. Miss Doyenne might sharpen up from her first start after a 249-day layoff last time and is a lively place contender.

SELECTION: BAMBINO FEVER

Next best: Alliteration

1.05 Tote Always SP Or Better Handicap Hurdle 3m

A competitive affair where From The Ashes could be interesting. His only win came on testing ground at Gowran, so perhaps he’d want this to turn more testing than is the case at the moment, but he stayed on well to finish fourth in a decent event at Limerick over Christmas. His trainer Charles Byrnes also struck with three winners during the festive period.

Bal Kauto has been doing his winning on reasonably decent ground lately and remains a dangerous sort when bringing his ‘A’ game. Dippedinmoonlight might do better now upped in trip for her handicap debut, Found A Diamond comes here in great form after a recent Navan victory and Find A Fortune lacks a recent run, but hails from a yard that can do no wrong at the moment.

SELECTION: FROM THE ASHES

Next best: Bal Kauto

1.40 Bet With Tote Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade 3) 2m 1f

Willie Mullins captured this €100,000 prize with a hooded Uncle Phil off a mark in the 130s and Western Diego will attempt to do something similar for the stable now. It was a pleasing comeback from the former Champion Bumper seventh to finish third in a listed handicap chase around here in November on what was his first start for 211 days. He likes Fairyhouse, having recorded his only hurdles win around here and finished third in a Grade 2 also, and this looks a suitable target.

Drumgill and Touch Me Not, who finished 1-2 in that listed handicap chase, had a race fitness and sharpness edge on the selection then, and that can count for a fair deal in competitive chases at this shorter distance. Gavin Cromwell supplied the 1-2-3 in this race last year and the runner-up from then, Midnight It Is, is no back number if returning to his best form. Last season’s Grand Annual third was tailed off on his comeback here, but the stable were quite quiet at that point of the season by their usual high standards.

SELECTION: WESTERN DIEGO

Next best: Midnight It Is

2.15 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1f

A race in which concerns can be raised to a certain degree with most of the main players. Karoline Banbou, the only mare in the field, might be the soundest option as a course winner who ran well when second behind Jacob’s Ladder in a similar event four weeks ago. If able to build on that first start after a break, she’ll be right in the firing line as one with the talent to finish fourth in last season’s Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham.

Koori Star ran a cracker back over hurdles last time in a valuable event at Naas. Perhaps he’d be of more interest in a handicap off 123, but this doesn’t look the deepest race. Port Joulain has definite ability but can blow hot and cold - and his two wins have come on heavy.

SELECTION: KAROLINE BANBOU

Next best: Koori Star

2.49 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase 2m 6f

Choccabloc was in the process of running a big race when coming down at the second last at Limerick over Christmas and, if he can put in a blemish-free round here, he’ll have a decent say. Hopefully his confidence hasn’t been dented by that. He’s the top-weight here, but the race is generally pretty condensed in terms of the weight structure, and that ought to help.

Cases can be made for a few of these, though, including recent Gowran winner Jacovec Cavern. Miss Pronunciation has been frustrating to follow over fences but has the ability to win a race of this nature. Progressive hurdler Nelson County is worth a market check on his second chasing start.

SELECTION: CHOCCABLOC

Next best: Jacovec Cavern

3.24 Watch Danny’s Diary @ToteRacing (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m

Gordon Elliott has won this bumper in recent seasons with Gerri Colombe and Romeo Coolio, so it wouldn’t be a shock if he runs a smart one this time around. With the stable operating at a 27% strike rate in Irish bumpers this season, Detroit Maverick - the mount of Harry Swan - is taken to make a winning rules debut. He has the benefit of three previous point-to-point runs behind him, including when a winner at Ballyknock for Colin Bowe last April.

Tom Cooper is well able to ready up one for a bumper first time, so Pinndar is of obvious interest here as a gelding by promising sire Poet’s Word.

Moments Away ran well when second in a bumper at Ballinrobe in May, The Wager looks a smart recruit to Willie Mullins and any market confidence behind newcomer Lake Isle would be interesting to note.

SELECTION: DETROIT MAVERICK

Next best: Pinndar