2.20 Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f

Conflated: Useful type who progressed from a solid effort behind Midnight Run at Cork to win a useful-looking Fairyhouse maiden next time. Followed that with a very respectable 6¾l third to Latest Exhibition in a Grade 2 at Navan and could easily progress further, but he has a good deal to find to get competitive at this level.

Elixir D’Ainay: Very promising type who showed lots on his only run last season before returning to action with a taking 1¾l defeat of Longhouse Poet at this track two months ago. He looks a horse of substantial potential and is sure to have improved a good deal from that reappearance success, and that could make him a formidable rival for the favourite.

Envoi Allen: Outstanding and undefeated bumper horse who looks just as good over hurdles on the evidence of a Down Royal maiden win and a defeat of the high-class Abacadabras in a Fairyhouse Grade 1 a month ago. Already holds a rating of 152 and can surely do better still, and he is a likely improver at this trip. He will take all the beating.

Longhouse Poet: Very promising type who progressed from a pleasing 1¾l second behind Elixir D’Ainay over this course and distance two months ago to win a 2m 4f Navan maiden hurdle in likeable style.

He has much more to offer and looks a staying novice of potential but he will have to step forward considerably to play a leading role here.

Midnight Run: Very smart sort in bumpers and impressed on his hurdling debut at Cork when he accounted for a couple of very useful types. Finished at the rear of the field in the Royal Bond last time but is easily forgiven that effort as a bad mistake two out cost him any chance of getting involved.

This trip could suit him much better and his maiden hurdle win makes him an interesting contender.

Anything Will Do: Admirable type who has done nothing but improve since scoring at 16/1 on his debut in a Listowel maiden hurdle in September.

Lines up as the winner of four of his five starts and could easily progress further now that he moves up to this trip but he still needs to take his form to a new level.

French Dynamite: Promising type who won his only start in point-to-points and produced a pleasing effort to land a Thurles maiden hurdle on his debut in late November. That Thurles race is some way removed from the test he faces here but there was much to like about his display that day and he looks a novice of some promise.

It will be fascinating to see how he fares at this level.

Verdict

Envoi Allen can retain his unbeaten record. He looks to have transferred the immense promise of his bumper season to hurdling without any difficulty whatsoever and has already reached a rating of 152 after just two runs over hurdles.

This new trip should suit him and he can deal with the threat posed by Elixir D’Ainay who also looks a novice of some promise.

Longhouse Poet, French Dynamite and Midnight Run are all entitled to respect.

12.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Beginners Chase 2m

Good Thyne Tara can get off the mark over fences at the second attempt. A very smart hurdler at her best and third in the mares’ hurdle at Cheltenham last season, she should be all the better for her chasing debut at Thurles in November when she was beaten 12l into second by the very smart but sadly ill-fated Sinoria.

A longer trip would probably suit her better but she can still deal with the threat posed by the useful Caravation who was beaten by just over 10l into third by Bapaume in a 2m 3f beginners’ event last month that has already produced two winners.

SELECTION: GOOD THYNE TARA

Next best: Caravation

1.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Novice Chase 2m

A speculative vote goes to Dunvegan whose chasing career got off to a winning start at Punchestown last month. On that occasion Pat Fahy’s charge was left in charge when Breaken crashed out at the third last but he was closing in on the leader at the time.

Last season Dunvegan started out over hurdles with a very promising success but the rest of his campaign when awry. He remains a horse of potential and he is chosen ahead of the 148-rated Tornado Flyer who made a winning debut over fences at this track two months ago before going on to win a Grade 3 at Navan where he looked to be in trouble at one stage before finishing out well to defeat I’m A Game Changer by four lengths.

Cash Back, Ten Ten and Zero Ten make this a graded race in everything but name.

SELECTION: DUNVEGAN

Next best: Tornado Flyer

1.50 Eastcoast Seafood & Gouldings Hardware Handicap Chase 2m

Everlastingpromise has gone up some 27lbs in the weights in recent months but might yet be able to secure another victory. His two wins have come over 2m 2f but a drop back to 2m at a track like this should be no problem and, as a son of Arcadio, he should relish the ground drying out. He had to settle for fourth behind Minella Times last time but that came in a very smart 2m 4f handicap chase at Navan where a combination of the trip and the soft ground may have been his undoing.

Allardyce might be the one to chase him home. He ran a creditable third to Drumconnor Lad at Leopardstown last week having previously won a 2m handicap at Gowran Park.

SELECTION: EVERLASTING PROMISE

Next best: Allardyce

2.50 INH Stallion Owners EBF Maiden Hurdle 2m

He showed a useful level of form in two bumpers and Pencilfulloflead should make a decent recruit to hurdling. After landing a winners’ bumper in good style on his debut at Down Royal in November, he had to settle for fourth behind Uhtred when upped in class at Navan last month. He didn’t get the clearest of runs that day so he is probably better than the bare result suggests.

He is preferred to fellow bumper winner Asterion Forlonge who did have to work to make a winning debut at Thurles in November. However, this son of Coastal Path is probably capable of a good deal better than he got to show that day and it is reasonable to assume that this winning pointer will come into his own as a jumper.

Goaheadwiththeplan looks the pick of the remainder.

SELECTION: PENCILFULLOFLEAD

Next best: Asterion Forlonge

3.20 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (80-116) 2m 3f

Fox Le Bel appeals as a likely winner. He struggled somewhat in maiden hurdles but his handicap debut at Clonmel last month was quite encouraging as he was only beaten 1¾l into third by Marshalled having been badly hampered at the second last. He can surely do better still and he has ample room for improvement.

Fox Le Bel could have most to fear from the reliable Something Sweet who has held her form very well since the summer and comes here off an honourable third to Blaze A Trail at Thurles.

SELECTION: FOX LE BEL

Next best: Something Sweet

3.50 Rushe’s Supervalu (Pro/Am) Flat Race 2m

This could go to Joseph O’Brien whose bumper horses are in rare order at the moment. The trainer supplies an interesting newcomer in Galileo Dance who is a son of Galileo and a very useful Group 3-placed runner.

Hardwired is very interesting as he is a son of Fame And Glory, whose progeny have done very well in bumpers, and his dam won at listed level during her time in bumpers.

The Caretaker is interesting as a Gordon Elliott-trained half-brother to several winners on the flat while Outa Dodge represents last year’s winning trainer.

SELECTION: GALILEO DANCE

Next best: Hardwired