Ryan McElligott

2.15 ADARE MANOR OPPORTUNITY HANDICAP HURDLE (81-116) 2M 150YDS

Papal Motel can build on his fine flat run here on Thursday when he finished a good third to Andratx and Camlann in a 1m4f handicap. He has a number of solid runs over hurdles to his name and his 3½l second to Whiskey Sour in a Tramore maiden in June reads very well in light of that winner’s subsequent exploits.

Babanango could have a better chance than his form figures imply. He was disappointing at Fairyhouse over Easter but previously he shaped up well on his first start for a year when he was sixth to Close Shave in a handicap at the same track. He looked likely to win a Ballinrobe handicap in April 2016 only to fall at the last.

Selection: PAPAL MOTEL

Next best: Babanango

2.45 KENNY GALWAY HANDICAP HURDLE (81-123) 3M 51YDS

This could see Dawn Raider follow-up last month’s victory in a 2m 6f handicap hurdle at Killarney for which he was raised 9lbs. He is an experienced sort who has solid form on various types of ground and the step up to this trip won’t be any problem.

Ben Button, who was raised 3lbs despite being beaten 7l by The King Of Brega in an extended 2m6f handicap at Downpatrick in June, remains very interesting. He is well treated on the pick of his old form and perhaps the step-up to this trip on slower will aid his cause.

Selection: DAWN RAIDER

Next best: Ben Button

3.20 FORAN EQUINE IRISH EBF AUCTION MAIDEN 7F

Darkolva has shown promise on both his outings so far and this looks a good opportunity for him to get off the mark. On his debut, he finished a respectable fourth to Rostropovich in a Gowran Park maiden and, last week, he was only collared in the closing strides when he went down by ½l to Lisard Lady at Down Royal.

Hopefully he will cope with the slowest ground that he has yet to encounter.

Quizical ran very well when losing out by just a short-head to Spiorad Saoirse in a maiden over this course and distance on Monday and must have a major chance.

Yulong Gold Fairy’s sixth to Beckford in a quality auction maiden at the Curragh is a particularly strong piece of form.

Selection: DARKOLVA

Next best: Quizical

3.55 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF AHONOORA HANDICAP 7F

He was rated a mere 63 when winning over this course and distance last year, and is now some 33lbs higher, but the vastly improved Tithonus can make it a hat-trick of premier handicap victories.

He won the 5f Rockingham on Derby weekend and followed up in the 6f Scurry Handicap two weeks later and now steps up to a trip over which he is just as effective. In terms of ground and trip he is very versatile and he is well drawn too.

By contrast, the top-weight, Riven Light, is posted wide in stall 15. He carries a 7lb penalty for his win in the premier mile handicap on Tuesday evening where he overcame a troubled passage for a convincing success. The burden of top weight and a high draw makes this tough but he looks a potential stakes class horse.

The bottom-weight, Ma Fee Heela, also appeals as a likely contender.

Selection: TITHONUS

Next best: Riven Light

4.30 AT THE RACES CHASE 2M 6F 110YDS

Shaneshill posted a superb effort to take second in Wednesday’s Plate. He went down by 4¾l to Balko Des Flos and could even have been closer but for a mistake at the second last.

The high-class hurdler was having his first run over fences since his second in the 2016 RSA Chase and he looks too strong for these.

The former Plate winner Road To Riches also lines up but he was 10th in Wednesday’s feature and a bigger threat might by Shaneshill’s stablemate Arbre De Vie who was a respectable sixth in the Plate.

Selection: SHANESHILL

Next best: Arbre De Vie

5.00 LORD HEMPHILL MEMORIAL HANDICAP CHASE 2M 2F 54YDS

This could see Jack The Wire follow up his recent victory at Tipperary. In what was his first handicap chase he recorded a comfortable success over Magnetic Force. There is more to come from this talented gelding over fences and he can make his light weight count. Killiney Court’s jumping is a cause for concern but this very capable course and distance winner could run well. He was still firmly in contention when falling two out in a handicap chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Selection: JACK THE WIRE

Next best: Killiney Court

5.30 JPK FENCING HANDICAP (50-75) 1M 5F 186YDS

Highland Fling showed up well in a good 2m5f handicap hurdle on Wednesday when he was beaten just under 13l into fourth by Davids Charm. He is entitled to improve for his first run for three months and this former Ballinrobe flat handicap winner can progress further after just seven previous runs on the flat.

He is preferred to Mr Adjudicator who comes here off two good runs, the more recent of which was his staying-on second to Pearl Of The West over 1m4f here on Monday evening.

Selection: HIGHLAND FLING

Next best: Mr Adjudicator

6.00 FR BREEN MEMORIAL (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

Santiago De Cuba looked one with a good future when he made a winning debut at Killarney last month. On that occasion he defeated stablemate Chess Grand Master, who went on to run well in defeat in a bumper here on Monday, and that effort would suggest that he is good enough to hold his own in a winners’ bumper.

Ainsi Va La Vie was impressive on her belated debut at Limerick last month when she handed out a 10l beating to a subsequent winner.

Selection: SANTIAGO DE CUBA

Next best: Ainsi Va La Vie