Ryan McElligott

12.05 IRISH STALLION FARMS BEGINNERS CHASE 2M

Brelade has already run some creditable races over fences and a repeat of several of his recent efforts could suffice. He struggled in a Grade 2 last time but his previous 11l second to Footpad was a decent effort and so too was his 7l runner-up finish behind Petit Mouchoir at Punchestown in October. He could have most to fear from the chasing newcomer Castlegrace Paddy. The latter was an easy winner of a Gowran Park maiden hurdle in March and he did show some useful form over the course of last season. He is a useful recruit to chasing. Bravissimo is also respected but he will need to improve on his recent fourth to The West’s Awake at Punchestown.

Selection: BRELADE

Next best: Castlegrace Paddy

12.35 HAPPY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL AT FAIRYHOUSE BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 7F 110YDS

This could see Moulin A Vent build on an encouraging third to Invitation Only at Navan last weekend. This smart hurdler didn’t make any impression on his chasing debut at Down Royal but he did much better last week and he can surely progress further over fences as he did show up well in several graded events as a novice hurdler.

Monbeg Notorious is an obvious threat having begun his chasing career with a solid 3¼l second to stablemate Dounikos in a 2m 4f beginners’ chase at Gowran Park last month.

The lightly raced Bonbon Au Miel is interesting now that he turns his hand to chasing. He held a rating of 137 when he was last in action over hurdles in the spring.

Selection: MOULIN A VENT

Next best: Monbeg Notorious

1.10 RACING ON NEW YEARS DAY 3YO MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Stormy Ireland can make a successful Irish debut. This filly ran four times in her native France and two of those outings came over jumps where she showed up well to fill the runner-up spot on both occasions. She endured narrow defeats in both of those runs, one of which came at Auteuil last March. She has most to fear from the Gordon Elliott duo of Sometimes A Fox and Percy. The former ran off a mark of 97 when he was last in action on the level and that rating would suggest that he could make up into a decent jumper.

Sometimes A Fox showed an encouraging level of ability to be placed on all three of his runs on the flat. He coped well with testing ground when he was a 3l second to Upgraded in an extended 1m 1f Gowran Park maiden in early September.

Selection: STORMY IRELAND

Next best: Sometimes A Fox

1.45 FENUSAVE CHOICE OF CHAMPIONS MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 4F

The 123-rated Giant Spirit has an excellent opportunity to make a winning start for Willie Mullins. A number of his runs would entitle him to take some beating and his runner-up finishes in maiden hurdles won by Let’s Dance and Bon Papa are the strongest pieces of form on offer here. He hasn’t run since March but such an absence isn’t a concern for runners from this yard.

Miracle In Medinah couldn’t make any impression behind Minella Fair at Punchestown last time but his previous comeback third behind Poli Roi was encouraging and that effort would entitle him to make his presence felt. Mount Hanover is another that should challenge for a place in the frame.

Selection: GIANT SPIRIT

Next best: Miracle In Medinah

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Dylrow has to contend with top weight but his rider claims a useful 7lbs and the capable seven-year-old could just find this race within his grasp. Last season he won a Naas handicap off a 6lbs lower mark and he subsequently showed up well in defeat on his next two starts. His reappearance at Thurles last month was also encouraging as he finished third to Like An Open Book and possibly his lack of a recent outing just caught him out there. The benefit of that comeback run could make him hard to beat.

Fairymount Boy, who notched up two wins in the autumn, bounced back from an unplaced run to chase home Getoutwhenyoucan at Limerick two weeks ago and he should again be closely involved.

Selection: DYLROW

Next best: Fairymount Boy

2.55 BUY YOUR 2018 FAIRYHOUSE MEMBERSHIP ON COURSE TODAY HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 7F

A heartening return to hurdling at Punchestown last month signalled that Off The Charts could be poised to add to his tally over timber. The eight-year-old was running over hurdles for the first time since April 2015 when he finished third to Lets Twist Again in a 3m handicap at Punchestown and that effort would indicate that he can add to his tally in this sphere.

The application of first time cheek pieces today could help his cause and it is worth recalling that he was once rated as high as 126 over hurdles.

Dromore Lad comes here in excellent heart having won two of his last three starts. He has only run six times so he is still open to plenty of progress and the step up to this trip will hold no fears for him. He is the chief threat to the selection.

Selection: OFF THE CHARTS

Next best: Dromore Lad

3.30 ITBA IRISH EBF 4YO FILLIES FLAT RACE 2M

Colreevy makes plenty of appeal on her racecourse debut. On her only point-to-point outing last season she was a length adrift of Posh Trish at Lemonfield in March when falling at the final fence.

Posh Trish has since advertised the form by winning both her starts in bumpers in Britain this season and this would suggest that Colreevy is a potentially smart mare. She is chosen ahead of Reine Fee who shaped up nicely on her debut at Galway in October when finishing third to Moonlight Escape.

Gordon Elliott’s newcomer Sweetlight D’Oroux is respected while The Princetonian was well below her best last time but would have an excellent chance on some of her previous efforts.

Selection: COOLREEVY

Next best: Reine Fee