12:00 Dimond Walsh Hospitality At Naas Racecourse Maiden Hurdle 2m

This looks like a typically strong maiden hurdle with all the top stables represented. Captain Kangaroo, a son of Mastercraftsman and half-brother to the Group 3 winner Sky Kingdom is interesting on his hurdles debut but Gabynako has the form and fitness in the book already. Gavin Cromwell’s five-year-old finished a close second to the highly touted Eskylane on debut and then was just a nose away from beating Fakeira, the pair having pulled 40 lengths clear, at Fairyhouse.

Battle Of Actium is a respected point-to-point recruit while Good Time Jonny has some very smart bumper form last season and could have a say on his hurdles debut.

SELECTION: GABYNAKO

Next best: Captain Kangaroo

12:30 Old Persian At Glenview Stud Fishery Lane Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m

This race is often fought out by some of last season’s top juveniles but this renewal has a different shape with a few more unexposed types. Wolf Prince represents last year’s top juveniles and if he was at his best he’d be a player but he ran very disappointingly in the good two-mile handicap hurdle at Down Royal at the start of the month.

For that reason, it may pay to concentrate on the French recruits: Indiana Jones, Gars En Noir and Get Free. Preference is for Indiana Jones, Mouse Morris’s horse, who showed a very good attitude to win on his Irish debut at Cork and can put that experience and fitness to best use now. Gars En Noir represents Willie Mullins and Joe Donnelly and any market confidence would prove telling.

SELECTION: INDIANA JONES

Next best: Gars En Noir

1:02 Poplar Square Chase (Grade 2) 2m

This is an excellent race, set to be fought out by three of Ireland’s top two-mile novice chasers last season. It’s worth noting that all three won on their seasonal debuts last term so this could be a real sighter into a two-mile chase division that needs a shake-up.

On these terms, Cash Back makes the most appeal. He receives 8lbs from both Notebook and Fakir d’Oudairies and also returns to the scene of an impressive novice chase win last season when he was much too good for the useful Zero Ten.

Fakir d’Oudairies has the potential to be one of the best two-mile chasers around and the form of his Arkle second took a significant boost through Put The Kettle On last weekend. Grade 1 winner Notebook is surely better than the performance he put up a Cheltenham but given he can be a quirky character before his races, he may be best watched today.

SELECTION: CASH BACK

Next best: Fakir d’Oudairies

1:37 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m 4f

Barnaviddaun could be the answer to a typically competitive renewal of this contest.

The Thomas Mullins-trained gelding ran very well in the Connollys Red Mills Series Final when last seen, staying on from out of the pack to finish a closing-in second to Funky Dady. Some of his earlier bumper form and maiden hurdle form is very good and that run at Naas was just his sixth over hurdles.

Off a mark fo 120 he has scope to improve further for his trainer who knows what it takes in this race, having won the previous two renewals.

Any Second Now is of obvious interest back over hurdles off a 12lb lower mark to his chase rating.

He was last seen winning a Grade 3 chase over two miles at this course, which showed him in a fine light considering his best form is over further. He is clearly a dangerous opponent, though this is his seasonal debut and he likely has bigger targets down the line.

Another McManus runner worth mentioning is Damalisque for Eddie Harty. He caught the eye when returning off a 757-day break to finish a very good second to Mt Leinster in a good standard flat race at the Curragh. With that run behind him, he could be anything off a mark of 118 over hurdles.

SELECTION: BARNAVIDDAUN

Next best: Any Second Now

2:12 Irish Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

This race will change complexion if second reserve Gars De Sceaux, a Borris House point-to-point winner, gets a run but without him, Stattler looks the one to beat. The Willie Mullins-trained five-year-old won his bumper at Faiyhouse before running well when carrying a penalty on each of his next two runs, one at this track and then one at Limerick. He handles heavy ground well so should have no problem with the surface today.

Fantasio D’Alene has some nice bumper form last season but struggled when last seen at this course, although that was in a listed hurdle. Vanillier may be better placed to give the selection most to do. A point winner at Dromahane, he performed nicely on his hurdles debut when second to Crosshill and can build on that now.

SELECTION: STATTLER

Next best: Vanillier

2:47 Rathbarry & Glenview Studs Novice Handicap Chase 2m 4f

This can go to Arthur Moore’s Fag An Bealach who caught the eye with his finishing effort at Clonmel. Having won his beginners chase in good style at Downpatrick, he dropped down to two miles at Clonmel and looked to be outpaced before staying on strongly to finish a six-length fourth to American Image. Back up to this trip, he could be difficult to beat on just his third start over fences.

Memory Tree gets the second vote. He is another lightly-raced sort who is in good form having finished first and second on his previous two starts, both at Listowel.

He has since moved from Paul Power’s yard to Henry de Bromhead so could well improve further now.

SELECTION: FAG AN BEALACH

Next best: Memory Tree

3:22 Mongey Communications Beginners’ Chase 2m 3f

This looks a very nice race and it wouldn’t be any surprise if it became a point of reference by the time the big festivals come around. Commander Of Fleet, a top-class novice hurdler two seasons ago, returns to make his chase debut. Off such a long lay off he may need this run and today’s distance is probably short of his best.

The two to concentrate on are Cedarwood Road and Janidil, and the latter is slightly preferred. He came into his own at around this time last season, winning three on the spin over two miles, including the good handicap hurdle on Hattons Grace Hurdle day at Fairyhouse. He was then left off until Cheltenham before stepping up markedly in trip for the Albert Bartlett in which he finished an honourable sixth. Cedarwood Road was brought along slowly last season and that should pay dividends this term. His form to beat Beacon Edge in a Grade 2 at this course looks even better now and he can launch a big season also today.

SELECTION: JANIDIL

Next best: Cedarwood Road