2.02 BoyleSports Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle

2m 175yd

Two National Hunt-bred bumper winners are the most attractive prospects in this, beginning with debut bumper winner Ebony King. Well-backed that day, he must be held in some regard, and his pedigree suggests he’ll be seen to even better effect over hurdles.

Andy Slattery’s two wins so far this week add to Ebony King’s appeal and the same goes for Gordon Elliott’s representative Stede Bonnet, who has the upper hand with three runs under his belt. A €75,000 store, the dual bumper winner is well-related and should be hard to beat.

They both look open to further progression and are expected to outclass those previously placed over hurdles, including Pistocchi. His fine second last time out was boosted when the winner won the listed novice hurdle earlier this week, but his behaviour at the start that day makes him a less attractive prospect.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend always warrant respect, but Night Moon has a way to go to justify his price of 100,000gns when rated 74 on the flat and an almost two-year absence is a worry.

The Dermot Weld-trained Brosna Town boasts a higher rating of on the flat and as a mile-and-a-half winner by Awtaad and out of a Duke Of Marmalade mare, stamina shouldn’t be an issue.

SELECTION: STEDE BONNET

Next best: Ebony King

2.37 BoyleSports Galway Tribes Handicap Hurdle 2m 175yd

Top-weight Telecon has plenty of class, having finished third to Kala Conti and Helvic Dream when last seen in November. The lightly-raced eight-year-old runs well fresh, so his absence may not be an issue.

Last year’s winner and 2023 runner-up Volantis, by his own trainer’s admission “needs everything to go right for him.” He’s 7lb higher than 12 months ago and another 4lb higher than 2023, but he’s had a similar preparation and may be an each-way bet.

The above pair may be vulnerable to a younger horse coming up through the ranks, with Noel Meade-trained four-year-old Messerschmitt an intriguing prospect as he drops down in grade. A maiden hurdle winner over course and distance last year, he wasn’t disgraced since in blacktype contests and Jack Kennedy is an eyecatching booking.

Willie Mullins’ Last Kingdom is another four-year-old to consider, the well-related French import having been on an upward curve earlier this year.

SELECTION: MESSERSCHMITT

Next best: Last Kingdom

3.12 BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m 6f 108yd

So Scottish, who finished second to The Wallpark in this last year, holds a leading chance off the same mark, especially without as talented a rival this time round. He may have shown little promise since, but a return to hurdles and step back up in trip should bring the necessary improvement.

It’s always difficult to know which Emmet Mullins runner to side with and So Scottish’s lightly-raced stablemate Dream On Baby is another intriguing prospect. Runner-up to Aurora Vega in a Grade 3 at the start of the year, she could progress over this trip, considering her dam stayed three miles.

Paul Townend’s selection always warrants respect but Maughreen has disappointed on her last three starts, including when last of four against her own sex last time out, when 4/5 favourite. Chart Topper may not be Willie Mullins’ leading hope based on jockey bookings but he has plenty of decent form and his full-sister Pink In The Park stayed this trip.

Watch The Weather’s fourth in this two years ago, off 8lb higher, earns him a place on the shortlist. He has decent chase form since then and May’s fifth after a six-month absence gives him an each-way shout at a big price today.

SELECTION: SO SCOTTISH

Next best: Dream On Baby

3.52 Salthill Hotel Irish EBF Mares INH Flat Race 2m 175yd

Willie Mullins’ newcomers always command respect and, given that he has won six of the last 10 runnings of this race, even more so here with Some Pretender. Of the other newcomers, no pedigrees or sales price stands out, so the market will be informative.

Cailin Deas has placed against some decent rivals, including when third over course and distance last season, with a blacktype mare in second. She appeared to need the run on her seasonal return and was travelling well before stumbling and unseating her rider last time out. A return to her best puts her right up there.

Barra Rua has also shown promise, though in weaker contests, and is an each-way prospect. Something Fabulous could potentially improve on her debut second, though it didn’t look the strongest point-to-point.

SELECTION: SOME PRETENDER

Next best: Cailin Deas

4.27 Whiriskey Refrigeration Irish EBF Maiden 1m 73yd

Action was a major eyecatcher at the Curragh on debut, finishing strongly to take third, in a manner that suggested today’s trip will suit. A full-brother to dual Derby winner Lambourn, he’s an exciting colt going forward.

Ballydoyle stablemate Christmas Day, Joseph O’Brien’s Perisher and Jessica Harrington’s Sceptical all cost sizeable sums at the sales and should be watched in the betting. Winday, by top dual-purpose sire Galiway, comes from a shrewd stable that has already scored this week and warrants consideration.

Hanak didn’t show much promise on debut but he’s a well-bred colt who should come on for the experience.

SELECTION: ACTION

Next best: Perisher

5.00 Bathshack Maiden 1m 73yd

Spanish Princess ran a fine race at the first attempt last month, overcoming a slow start to separate more experienced rivals. She was narrowly denied and while it wasn’t the strongest of Irish maidens, she is expected to come on from that experience.

Staywitherjohnny showed promise on debut, but the form hasn’t fared well since and her subsequent effort suggests she needs heavy ground to be seen to best effect.

Moon Reign intrigues from leading connections, the relation to Crystal Ocean having cost 210,000gns as a foal. Little Miss P, Navinsky, Smithfield, Time Angel and Zediani are other well-related newcomers from yards capable of scoring first time out; the market should narrow down the shortlist.

SELECTION: SPANISH PRINCESS

Next best: Moon Reign

5.35 Ardilaun Hotel Handicap 7f

LOINGSEOIR caught the eye here on Tuesday. He found gaps late on and finished 12th, but only beaten three and a quarter lengths. Sent off favourite then, he boasts a strong chance today under the in-form Dylan Browne McMonagle.

He was more patiently ridden than a number of rivals who reoppose today –Storm Averted, Convincing, Comfort Line, who finished in front of him in that order. Given the close finish on Tuesday, it’s difficult to separate them here, but given that Convincing was making his stable debut then and has a better draw today, he may be able to reverse positions.

Brains has run well on his last two starts over a mile, headed close home in each, and a return to seven furlongs could help him get his head back in front. Zaraahmando is another in fine form and, considering how he won going away last time, may be able to defy an 8lb hike and could relish the test of Galway.

SELECTION: LOINGSEOIR

Next best: Convincing

6.05 McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap 1m 3f 180yd

Pillar Of Hope has strong claims of defying the 7lb he received for winning the Apprentice Derby at the Curragh last time out. That was his first attempt over a mile and a half and, given his delayed challenge and strong finish, there could be more to come from the now seven-year-old, who was rated 82 in his heyday.

It’s surprising to see Razdan run off 1lb lower than when third in the Cork Derby, when he was slowly away and the winner went on to score at Royal Ascot. Nicola Burns’ 7lb claim boosts his chances.

The first two home last year, Oriole and Alpha Capture, clash again. They are expected to finish in the same order, with Oriole down to 1lb lower, while Alpha Capture faces a 3lb rise and quick return having run on Tuesday.

A change in tactics for First Ascent have yielded placed efforts in maidens the last twice, and today’s drop down in trip should work to his advantage as a son of Blue Point.

SELECTION: PILLAR OF HOPE

Next best: Oriole