1.00 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle
2m 110yd
This doesn’t look the deepest of races and it could be a good chance for All Night Revival to build on some promising enough efforts to open his account. Having traded at 1/6 in-running when looking the likeliest winner only to finish a neck second in a bumper here in November, he was bought privately to join Philip Rothwell and shaped with a definite degree of encouragement in fourth at Gowran Park on extremely deep ground. If he can build on that, he should be thereabouts.
Eagle’s Quest, second in the same Gowran event, holds the edge on him from that encounter but mightn’t necessarily be open to as much improvement, given that was his ninth career start and a fourth over hurdles. He’s still well respected in this. Simply Natural should be involved on the basis of her penultimate second at Naas, while Fabhcun represents top connections and is totally unexposed.
SELECTION: ALL NIGHT REVIVAL
Next best: Eagle’s Quest
1.30 Declan And Maria Coombes Memorial Handicap Hurdle
2m 110yd
Searcog wasn’t high-class on the flat but has made a reasonably positive start to life over hurdles, running with consistency and getting a little closer to the mark than before when sixth in a maiden hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas. It’s tough to say she’s been handed a gimme of an opening mark, running off 107 here, but she looks reliable and could now find her feet in handicaps, as opposed to maiden company. Eoghan Finegan’s 7lb claim is another positive.
Sopelana disappointed in a listed event 13 days ago but that was a tough assignment for her and she’ll be much more comfortable back in her own age group, and handicap company, now. Mode Avion’s form ties in with that rival from a clash at Punchestown in November.
SELECTION: SEARCOG
Next best: Sopelana
2.05 Bar 1 Betting Tommy
Carberry Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
With real momentum behind him as he chases a hat-trick, the rejuvenated Our Uncle Jack will relish these testing conditions once more and is given a chance of defying a 13lb rise for winning readily over two miles here 18 days ago. Stepping back up to this trip doesn’t look an obvious negative on how he’s been dominating lately, but it is a slight question mark to hold.
Sportinthepark has the potential to be the class act of a race like this, if he’s able to bounce back from a disappointing Troytown Chase effort as a 7/1 shot. He’d previously shown he can be effective over hurdles when winning at Galway in October, and, despite being 6lb higher now, he’s still 8lb lower than his chasing mark. Linden Arden comes here in form after winning at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, but it remains to be seen if he’ll love ground this deep. A 10lb rise for Billy Lee Swagger makes life tougher, though the second and third from that handicap have won and finished second since. One Big Boum should be well at home in these conditions.
SELECTION: OUR UNCLE JACK
Next best: Sportinthepark
2.38 Easter Festival 4th - 6th April Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
After taking advantage of a handy mark over hurdles and fences the last twice, hat-trick seeking Shanroe Act - back at the course and distance of his facile first victory - tries to overcome a 17lb rise. He’s clearly gotten the hang of things now, having spent plenty of time on the sidelines, and was originally handicapped on form that he looks much better than now. He’ll need to keep progressing, but a mark in the low 90s is still potentially dangerous for him.
Teds Corner has been knocking on the door and can be on the scene once more, Midleton Rare would be fancied stronger on slightly drier ground, and the in-form mares, Run For Cover and Survivors Sister, bring decent recent form to the mix. Down the very bottom of the weights, it might be worth keeping a little eye out for Sock It To Me, trained by Philip Rothwell. In a handicap won by the front-running Run For Cover here in December (where nothing could get involved from behind), he ran better than his finishing position suggests.
SELECTION: SHANROE ACT
Next best: Sock It To Me
3.15 Bar 1 Betting Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3) 3m 2f
A cracking renewal of this well-recognised Grand National trial, with a host of Aintree candidates in the mix on the week their weights have been set for Liverpool. Given he’s a Grade 1 winner who doesn’t have to carry a Grade 1 penalty (due to the timing cut-off in the race conditions), Grangeclare West looks the standout candidate - provided he can leave an ordinary Irish Gold Cup run behind from just 19 days ago. He’s a 10-year-old with a sizeable engine, a close third in last year’s Grand National off 163 - and that was in spite of making a bad mistake at the last.
Stablemate Spanish Harlem has 9lb to find on ratings with the selection, though there’s every chance he’d have been rated higher but for his unseat at the last in the Thyestes (up 4lb for that). Three Card Brag, making his first start since a good second to Panic Attack in the Coral Gold Cup, might be trained to peak at Aintree but has solid claims. Don’t discount a strong showing from Stellar Story, who showed more than the result suggests from his last appearance in the Savills. Lecky Watson looks an interesting Aintree candidate but a 12lb penalty for winning last year’s Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase makes him hard to fancy here.
SELECTION: GRANGECLARE WEST
Next best: Three Card Brag
3.45 Group Discounts On Easter Festival General Admission Rated Novice Chase 3m 2f
After a comprehensive win here over an extended two miles and five furlongs, admittedly in a race where there were some disappointments, an opening rating of 125 over fences doesn’t look harsh for Nelson County and he’s fancied to follow up again. Ross O’Sullivan’s six-year-old has low mileage and comes from a family with lots of stamina - his dam being a three-parts-sister to Irish National winner Our Duke and the useful Oscar Sam. That should be a benefit to him as he steps back up in trip.
Rokathir absolutely bolted up at Navan 13 days ago and the 15lb rise he received looked on the cards once he crossed the line 22 lengths clear of the rest. Showurappreciation is up 10lb for winning the Amateur National at Punchestown last time, but he did win with a bit of a swagger there and looks a handicapper on the up.
SELECTION: NELSON COUNTY
Next best: Rokathir
4.20 Get Your Easter Festival Tickets Now Handicap Chase 3m
Lovely Reaction has to bounce back from a disappointing showing last time when pulled up at Punchestown over an extended two miles and three furlongs, but she might just find a bit of confidence jumping and travelling at this slower pace over three miles and is down to an attractive mark of 95 if all falls right. She was tracking the winner and hadn’t been asked for any sort of effort when falling at the third last in a ladies’ handicap chase here two starts ago. She comes with some risks attached but is a contender if bringing her ‘A’ game under top 5lb claimer Eoin Staples.
In the same J.P. McManus silks, Notimelikedpresent got closer to the target on his last start and has a tongue-tie added now. He’s bred to be better than his mark of 86, races off just 10st 2lb and trying this longer trip for the first time could be a help to eke out more.
Decimation comes here on the back of a near miss at Limerick over Christmas and is respected, while Aine’s Lad won well over hurdles last time and now makes his chasing debut off 9lb higher.
SELECTION: LOVELY REACTION
Next best: Notimelikedpresent
4.55 www.justlite.com Ian Smith Memorial (Pro/Am) Bumper
2m 110yd
Detroit Maverick bumped into a well-regarded sort trained by Willie Mullins here 38 days ago - only beaten three quarters of a length after hitting 1/14 in-running - but the experience should stand to him now. That was his debut for Gordon Elliott, having won a point-to-point at the third attempt for Colin Bowe, and he’s a year older than his main rivals here.
Look Me has strong bumper form from last season, having finished second to the now 130-rated I’m Slippy in the Tattersalls Ireland George Mernagh Memorial Sales Bumper on his only run for Stuart Crawford last April. He’s joined Willie Mullins since and that stable has been firing on all cylinders when it comes to Irish bumpers since the turn of the year.
SELECTION: DETROIT MAVERICK
Next best: Look Me