1:50 Leopardstown Nursery Handicap 1m

Joseph O’Brien’s Benaud produced his best performance yet when a closing-in fourth to Alex D at Limerick last week. He started slowly in that contest, so did well to finish as close as he did and as a son of Australia, he should appreciate this step up to a mile now for his nursery debut. Softish conditions won’t pose a problem.

Shalaalaa is an interesting contender. He was thought good enough to take his chance in the Marble Hill Stakes earlier in the season. He disappointed there but has been gelded since and performed with credit on his recent return to the track. The step up to a mile is a question he has to answer but it may well improve him.

SELECTION: BENAUD

Next best: Shalaalaa

2:25 Knockaire Stakes (Listed) 7f

This looks between Laughifuwant and Free Solo, with preference just for the former. Gerard Keane’s five-year-old has been in excellent form since making his reappearance in the Ahonoora Handicap at Galway. He was a little unlucky in his run there but put that behind him when winning the Irish Cambridgeshire before only just failing to hold the challenge of another form horse in Current Option in a listed event at Tipperary last time. He was third in this race last year but looks a better horse now.

Free Solo returns to the scene of his impressive maiden win. In truth he has been a little bit disappointing this season but his previous run to be second at Cork, splitting to higher-rated older horses, is good in the context of this contest.

SELECTION: LAUGHIFUWANT

Next best: Free Solo

3:00 Killavullan Stakes (Group 3) 7f

Ontario has the best form in this contest but he disappointed in maiden company last time and so might be worth taking on.

Masen is worth another chance. He finished last in the National Stakes but the nature of that slowly run race probably didn’t suit him at all and he returns to the track where he won his maiden and finished a close third in the Tyros Stakes.

Federal was a smooth course-and-distance winner for his maiden win but has been 78 days off the track since and may lack fitness for this jump up in class. Zaffy’s Pride has two all-weather wins to her name and now gets the chance to show she can do it on turf.

SELECTION: MASEN

Next best: Onatario

3:35 Leopardstown Members Club Maiden 1m 2f

The market will likely focus in on Yankee Stadium again but given his tall reputation, he has been disappointing so far, which can be said of all his dam’s produce.

This isn’t a particularly strong-looking maiden so he may be able to get his head in front today but a better option could be perennial runner-up Charlie Bassett. He has finished second on his previous four starts but has run consistently to his rating of 82 and that could well be good enough this time.

Down the bottom, All Our Tomorrows is interesting. It may be an indication of her ability that connections have pursued with her to make her four-year-old debut this late into the season.

SELECTION: CHARLIE BASSETT

Next best: All Our Tomorrows

4:10 Manguard Plus Handicap

1m 4f

Jeff Kidder could be the answer to this open looking handicap. Noel Meade’s gelding has been mixing it between hurdling and the flat on his recent starts, to good effect as well. He was second on his last two hurdles starts and in between them he won on the flat at Bellewstown. He’s in good form, improving all the time and he’ll handle the ground.

Son Of Hypnos is an obvious danger coming here chasing a hat-trick while Sage Advice is another in good form, with scope to improve further. Knight Of Malta is interesting also, taking a marked step up in trip. He is out of Oaks winner Was, so that could well bring about a spurt in improvement.

SELECTION: JEFF KIDDER

Next best: Knight Of Malta

4:45 Retro Drive In Movies October Handicap 1m 4f

Melburnian won this easily last season and arrives back here off just 4lb higher mark. He makes plenty of appeal again but this looks very competitive with plenty of progressive sorts.

Powerful Ted is one of them. He was probably in the wrong position coming off a slowly-run affair here on Irish Champions Weekend, but the ground he made up on the inside rail was eyecatching and he has the scope to improve further.

Red Kelly is another interesting one back in a handicap and with first-time cheekpieces applied, while Haparanda ran with credit when third to Mighty Blue at the Curragh last time and has clear scope to improve further now.

SELECTION: POWERFUL TED

Next best: Melburnian

5:15 Breast Cancer Ireland (Ladies) Handicap 1m 4f

The Mouse Doctor makes plenty of appeal coming here off a good hurdles win at Navan. That smooth win came after a good third to Poseidon in a Grade B contest at Killarney. His flat rating of 75 looks very workable now, especially considering he finished third in the Microsoft Cup Lady Riders Handicap off a 3lb higher mark over this course and distance last season.

There are plenty of dangers, perhaps none more so than Ardamir for Gordon Elliott and Lisa O’Neill. He has won twice over hurdles since joining Cullentra House and though he has been a little disappointing recently, he returns ot the level now off an attractive mark of 62.

SELECTION: THE MOUSE DOCTOR

Next best: Ardamir