Kevin Blake

12:50 BOYLESPORTS RATED CHASE 2M 5F 100YDS

These contests are always tricky and marginal preference is given to the Tom Foley-trained Followmeuptocarlow. The 12-year-old has been in fine form of late, finishing a close fourth in the valuable Boylesports Handicap Chase at Leopardstown last time. A repeat of that effort should be enough to see him go close in this. His most interesting rival is perhaps the Jim Dreaper-trained Los Amigos, with the eight-year-old being unexposed over fences and open to improvement on his seasonal return.

Selection: FOLLOWMEUPTOCARLOW

Next best: Los Amigos

1:20 BOBBYJO BISTRO GREAT FOOD GREAT DEALS HANDICAP CHASE (0-109) 2M 5F 100YDS

Competitive fare and the nod is given to the Denis Prendergast-trained Easyondeye. The nine-year-old showed much more in a handicap chase at Punchestown last time and with this longer trip to suit, he could well improve enough to gain his first success in handicap chase company. The main danger to him could well be the James Grace-trained De Benno following his close third over this course and distance last time.

Selection: EASYONDEYE

Next best: De Benno

1:55 SOLERINA MARES NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 3) 2M 2F

This is an absolute stormer of a contest. Willie Mullins holds a formidable hand and the pick of his pair is Morning Run. The daughter of King’s Theatre has looked a high-class prospect in winning three bumpers and both her starts over hurdles, beating the subsequent Grade 3 winner Carrigmoorna Rock in a Grade 3 at Down Royal last time. While this softer surface is a concern, she ought to win. The main danger to her is her Down Royal victim Carrigmoorna Rock, with the seven-year-old having since exhibited a taking turn of foot in Grade 3 company at Leopardstown last time.

Selection: MORNING RUN

Next best: Carrigmoorna Rock

2:30 ONLINE DISCOUNTS @ FAIRYHOUSE.IE MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Quite an open maiden hurdle and a chance is taken on the John Kiely-trained Minella Berry. The point-to-point winner made an encouraging racecourse debut when third to Rock The World in a maiden hurdle at Down Royal in November and promises to come on quite a bit from that. Market support for him on his return from a short break would be encouraging. A solid alternative to the selection is the Dermot Weld-trained Zafayan with him having run well in both his starts over hurdles to date.

Selection: MINELLA BERRY

Next best: Zafayan

3:05 RACING AT FAIRYHOUSE FEB 21ST MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Another competitive maiden hurdle and the Tony Martin-trained Velvet Maker looks to be the one. The six-year-old French import has bumped into above-average sorts on each of his Irish starts to date and this looks to be his best opportunity yet to get off the mark. The pick of his opposition is the John Kiely-trained Badgerfort, with his second to Martello Tower at Killarney on his penultimate start reading well in the context of this race.

Selection: VELVET MAKER

Next best: Badgerfort

3:40 THISTLE CHELTENHAM HOTEL NOVICE HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 2M 4F

These races are always littered with potential improvers and without the benefit of seeing the market, it is best to stick with a solid contender in the shape of the Edward O’Grady-trained Jumptoconclusions. The six-year-old beat a subsequent winner at Cork in December and followed it up with a solid second to The Mad Well at Limerick. He seems sure to run another solid race. One that looks fairly handicapper for her handicap debut is the Michelle Gannon-trained Missyspet.

Selection:: JUMPTOCONCLUSIONS

Next best: Missyspet

4:15 ARKLE PACKAGE EASTER MARES (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

A really interesting contest and the Gordon Elliott-trained Whistle Dixie looks to be the one to side with.

A half-sister to Kicking King, she has won a point-to-point at Lemonfield and a bumper at Limerick in good style.

The prevailing conditions hold no fear for her and she should be tough to beat. The main danger to her is undoubtedly the Willie Mullins-trained Honeys Joy, for all that it is difficult to know how big of a role the brilliantly inventive ride she received from Patrick Mullins played in her wide-margin win at Thurles last time.

Selection: WHISTLE DIXIE

Next best: Honeys Joy