2.20 Racing Post Novice Chase (Grade 1) 2m

Djingle: Took a couple of runs to find his best form when coming to Ireland but followed up a commanding success at Listowel with a Grade 3 success at Roscommon and was in the process of running very well at Carlisle when falling at the final fence in a race that was won by last season’s Queen Mother fourth Hell’s Kitchen. He cannot be underestimated, especially if getting to dominate.

Notebook: Useful hurdler but is all the better for the switch to fences as evidenced by two victories over 2m at Punchestown, the latest of which saw him defeat the 151-rated Moon Over Germany by 5l in a Grade 2. Could easily do better still and warrants maximum respect.

Royal Rendezvous: Talented sort who impressed in bumpers and over hurdles at various stages and looked as good as ever when defeating the capable Milan Native by 3l on his chasing debut at Thurles last month. This race demands vastly more and he could come up short against a few of these.

Fakir D’Oudairies: High-class juvenile hurdler and looks as good over fences on the evidence of a beginners’ chase victory over Melon and a victory in the Grade 1 Drinmore Novice Chase where the departure of Samcro left him to come home 22l clear. His jumping has been particularly impressive to date and that is a notable positive for his return to two miles.

Laurina: Top-class mare who won at Cheltenham as a novice hurdler and could make an even better chaser judged on her commanding beginners’ chase success over the dual Grade 1 scorer Minella Indo at Gowran Park last month. A drop back to two miles isn’t a concern and she must have every chance in a cracking edition of this race.

Verdict

A small field but one that is high on quality with most of the field having legitimate prospects of holding their own at the highest level. On this occasion, marginal preference is for Laurina who was so impressive in disposing of Minella Indo at Gowran Park last month. However, the star mare will have to be at the top of her game to fend off Fakir D’Oudairies and Notebook in what promises to be one of the races of the season.

Aspire Tower aims to scale new heights

12.10 Bet With Tote Maiden Hurdle 2m

A speculative vote goes to Cedarwood Road. He showed promise on his debut in a Punchestown Festival bumper last April and again offered encouragement on his return to action at Fairyhouse several weeks ago when he was beaten just under 12l into fifth in a maiden hurdle won by Conflated. He can certainly progress further and he is preferred to Arthurian Fame.

The latter is a smart 99-rated flat horse whose jumping career began with a pleasing second to Tiger Voice at Cork last month. Fusain, a recent runner-up in a Navan maiden hurdle, is another likely contender along with the triple bumper second Jungle Junction.

SELECTION: CEDARWOOD ROAD

Next best: Arthurian Fame

12.40 Thorntons Recycling Maiden Hurdle 2m

Entoucas can get off the mark a year after chasing home Klassical Dream in the opener at this fixture. He ran creditably behind Envoi Allen on his return at Down Royal and followed that with a neck second to Thatsy at Navan several weeks later. The drop back to this trip won’t be a problem for him and he can make his experience count.

Mt Leinster began his hurdling career with a creditable second to Easywork at Gowran Park last month. That run would entitle him to respect.

SELECTION: ENTOUCAS

Next best: Mt Leinster

1.10 Knight Frank Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m

On his hurdling debut at Punchestown last month, Aspire Tower produced a taking display. He was harried by an errant rival early on and was a shade keen, yet he was by far the strongest in the closing stages of that race which he won by 13l and the third (Wolf Prince) won subsequently. He could progress into a high-class juvenile.

Echoes In Rain is a very interesting runner and could play a major role on her jumping debut. She is a dual 10-furlong flat winner in France and two of the last three fillies to win this race have been trained by Willie Mullins.

A Wave Of The Sea sets a very solid standard and he probably is better than he showed when chasing home stablemate Cerberus in a Fairyhouse Grade 3 last time.

SELECTION: ASPIRE TOWER

Next best: Echoes In Rain

1.45 Holden Plant Rentals Novice Handicap Hurdle 2m

Dessie’s Diamond represents last year’s winning trainer for whom he is making his debut. He hasn’t run for 10 months but a look at the form of his second to Alrightjack in a Lingfield maiden hurdle on his most recent start suggests that this gelding could be reasonably treated as that race worked out quite satisfactorily. After just six career runs he could have more to offer and he can see off Exceeded Brief.

The latter was fifth to Klassical Dream in a maiden hurdle at this meeting last year and he showed up well on his first run since then to finish second in a recent Thurles maiden won by Fan De Blues.

Ena Baie is another that warrants close consideration.

SELECTION: DESSIE’S DIAMOND

Next best: Exceeded Brief

2.55 Bet Through The Free Racing Post App Handicap Chase 2m 1f

He finished a good third to Tisamystery in this race last year and off a 3lb lower mark Grand Partner might well prevail this time. He has been restricted to just one run in the interim and that came when he was a well beaten fourth in a Navan Grade 3 earlier this month. He is entitled to improve for that and he will be suited by moving back in handicaps. Furthermore this gelding’s last four wins have been at this track.

At The Acorn hinted that he could be about to hit some form when he was fourth to An Fraoch Mor at Navan recently. He is interesting now that he drops back to this trip.

SELECTION: GRAND PARTNER

Next best: At The Acorn

3.30 Meetings That Matter On Racing TV Flat Race 2m

Ramillies will look to give Willie Mullins a third win in the last five editions of this race. He won his sole outing in an English point-to-point last season after which he was picked up by his current connections. His profile is very similar to that of Blackbow who came from the same connections before making a winning debut in this race in 2017.

Hamundarson is a half-brother to a recent bumper winner and represents another notable bumper axis. His trainer has done quite well in this race over the last decade.

The dual bumper runner-up Risk Factor is another likely contender and could be worth keeping an eye on in the market.

SELECTION: RAMILLIES

Next best: Hamundarson