Kevin Blake

2.20 TROYTOWN BAR MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

An interesting maiden hurdle to kick off the card and the Charlie Swan-trained Grandma Dotty is given the nod. Rated 68 on the flat, she was set to make a bold bid in a maiden hurdle at Thurles in December only to fall at the penultimate flight. The prevailing ground will suit her well and she should go close. The best of the rest looks to be the Gordon Elliott-trained Tom’s Article. The winner of a bumper at Downpatrick in July, his last two runs over hurdles have been very solid and he seems sure to run well.

Selection: GRANDMA DOTTY

Next Best: Tom’s Article

2.55 ALBANY HURDLE 2M 6F

A typically tightly-knit conditions hurdle and the one that makes the most appeal is the Tom Mullins-trained Grand Partner. The six-year-old has really come good over hurdles of late following a slow start, winning a maiden at Cork and a winner’s race at Ballinrobe. This longer trip could well help his cause and he is fancied to go very close. The main danger to him looks to be the James Lambe-trained Sang Tiger, with him having won a maiden hurdle at Sligo and run well in an above-average novice hurdle at the Galway Festival.

Selection: GRAND PARTNER

Next Best: Sang Tiger

3.30 NAVAN WELCOMES OWNERS TODAY HANDICAP HURDLE (80-95) 2M 7F

A wide-open handicap hurdle in which recent winners are in short supply and a chance is taken on the Charlie Swan-trained Close One. The five-year-old won a similar race at Roscommon in August and ran a solid race at this track last time. Conditions will suit and another good effort should be forthcoming. Perhaps his most interesting rival is the Yvonne Latta-trained Most Chaste. She showed improvement over fences when last seen in July, earning an official rating of 111, which makes her look well treated for her return to hurdling off a mark of 84.

Selection: CLOSE ONE

Next Best: Most Chaste

4.05 RACING AGAIN WEDNESDAY 8TH OCTOBER HANDICAP HURDLE (80-116) 2M 4F

Handicap hurdle debutants trained by Tony Martin always warrant respect and Manuka makes plenty of appeal. Rated 68 on the flat for Johnny Murtagh, the five-year-old gained his mark over hurdles based on three runs on unsuitably soft ground. Now that he enters handicap company on much more suitable ground, it wouldn’t surprise to see him show significant improvement and run very well. The James Lambe-trained Sir Ector will always attract attention when returning to hurdling, given that he looks so well handicapped relative to his flat rating of 101, but he has disappointed quite a few times over hurdles and doesn’t rate as a reliable proposition.

Selection: MANUKA

Next Best: Sir Ector

4.40 LE GRANDE CHASE 2M 4F

Henry de Bromhead can saddle the winner with Darwins Fox. He is a useful performer over both hurdles and fences, most recently plying his trade over the smaller obstacles with success. A Grade 3 novice chase winner last season, he should have no problem carrying his form back over fences and he ought to run very well. Of the less exposed chasers, the Paul Nolan-trained Theatre Mill remains open to improvement over fences and shouldn’t be underestimated.

Selection: DARWINS FOX

Next Best: Theatre Mill

5.15 KELLS BEGINNERS CHASE 2M 4F

The Matthew Smith-trained Rawnaq was by far the best of these over hurdles, with his current official rating being 140 and with him having run well in a couple of the biggest handicap hurdles around. While he is flat-bred, he should make a chaser and this looks to be a good opportunity for him to make a winning start over fences. The pick of his rivals is the Arthur Moore-trained Jarob, with the 121-rated hurdler having run well over fences at Down Royal in June.

Selection: RAWNAQ

Next Best: Jarob

5.45 BECTIVE RESTAURANT (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

The likes of Donnas Palm and He’llberemembered have won this bumper in the past, but this year’s renewal looks to be thoroughly average on paper. The one with the most scope for improvement is perhaps the Ted Walsh-trained Swansea Mile with the four-year-old having been touched off by a nose in a slowly-run bumper over this course and distance earlier this month. A more truly-run race could well suit him and he should run well again. Of the remainder, the Jimmy Barcoe-trained Bon Chic warrants respect followed her solid third at Cork last time.

Selection: SWANSEA MILE

Next Best: Bon Chic