1.50 Navan Ford & Opel Maiden Hurdle 2m

He doesn’t set an insurmountable standard, with a rating of 116 and a hurdles record of 0-5, but Coyote Spirit has posted some decent showings in better races than this and can get off the mark over flights. He was only beaten four lengths when third to Walks In June at Leopardstown over Christmas, and arguably his best bumper runs came at this track (including when third to Copacabana, with Frankie John back in fourth).

Stablemate Whinney Hill is rated 8lb higher. However, he was bitterly disappointing when pulled up as 9/4 favourite at Down Royal over Christmas (coughing post race) and Jack Kennedy prefers Coyote Spirit. A reproduction of Good Deal’s best form from last season gives him a squeak. Muhaajim didn’t set the world alight on his Irish introduction, though he was talented on the flat so is worth a second look.

SELECTION: COYOTE SPIRIT

Next best: Whinney Hill

2.20 Ryan’s Cleaning Apple’s Jade Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2m 4f

Not the strongest turnout for a blacktype contest and it could fall the way of Colm Murphy’s Zanoosh. She’s proven on testing ground, guaranteed to stay and posted a career-best effort when winning a €45,000 handicap hurdle around here three weeks ago. Her mark of 127 is the best on offer and her experience should be a big asset in ground like this.

There are six other last-time-out winners in here trying to make a marked step up in class, including Changeyourstars, who won a Limerick maiden hurdle at the expense of Galileo Dame over Christmas and might have more to offer for a small-scale yard. Apples Jane ought to have gained confidence from her win at Ayr, but this is a much better race. The fact Darragh O’Keeffe seemingly prefers Ill Raise A Glass over Soldierstown isn’t a shock, given the trip looks sharp for the latter, but his own mount is a danger. Sopelana, the only four-year-old in the field, has been thriving on racing and it wouldn’t be a shock if she managed to sneak into the frame. Poetisa is also declared for Naas on Saturday.

SELECTION: ZANOOSH

Next best: Changeyourstars

2.50 William Hill Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 6f

Given he’s receiving weight from all rivals and has been running really consistently lately (even if not always the easiest to trust), Staffordshire Knot gets a very tentative vote. He was just touched off in the Galmoy last time and, if the deep ground helps offset the fact he probably wants further, he has the ability to give them all plenty to think about.

Hiddenvalley Lake is the class act of the race, a Grade 1 winner at Aintree last season who won this contest back in 2024, but it must be a worry that he hasn’t been seen in 283 days and Henry de Bromhead has been a little quiet (as can happen at this time of year). He also gives weight away to all rivals, barring Punchestown Grade 1 novice hurdle winner Irancy, who showed nothing in the Morgiana on his comeback and might be more interesting in a big handicap hurdle back on spring ground, though the market is worth watching. Colonel Mustard should appreciate this drop in trip at a track where he won the Lismullen earlier this season, while last year’s winner Maxxum hasn’t shown anything so far this season but is often underestimated and could outrun his price.

SELECTION: STAFFORDSHIRE KNOT

Next best: Maxxum

3.20 Gibney’s Of Malahide Handicap Hurdle 2m 6f

After a reasonable comeback run over fences from a 272-day absence, Butty O Brien looks a lively player back over hurdles off 97 - the same mark from which she won around here back in January 2024 (won by nine lengths on that occasion but her main challenger came down at the final flight). She loves an ease in the ground, this trip could be a good fit for her, as a 10-year-old now, and the Paddy Magee yard does well with its relatively small string of horses.

Hitthehayson disappointed last time at Fairyhouse, but had been on a real roll prior to that and perhaps a five-and-a-half-week break since then will have freshened him up to go close, with Josh Williamson claiming a further 5lb off. His hurdles mark of 91 is still workable and testing ground shouldn’t inconvenience him. Teds Corner is dangerous when all falls right, The Miracle Man ran well when third in deep ground on Thyestes day, and Wakey Wakey Man is capable of winning races of this grade for his local connections.

SELECTION: BUTTY O BRIEN

Next best: Hitthehayson

3.50 William Hill Racing Bet Builder Ten Up Novice Chase (Grade 2) 3m

After missing his Grade 1 Christmas engagement at Limerick, Oscars Brother bids to make a winning first start in the colours of J.P. McManus. He’s proven at the trip, has won on soft-to-heavy ground and his form from the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase last time has been working out well, with runner-up Koktail Divin landing a Leopardstown beginners’ chase at Christmas and the third, Bossofthebrownies, placed in good company multiple times since. Perhaps we mightn’t see a peak version of Oscars Brother here if connections have one eye on a major handicap later in the spring, but he only has 2lb to find on ratings with Gold Dancer, who ran well enough on deep ground last time at Limerick behind Final Demand but probably wants better conditions - and that Faugheen Novice Chase form looks slightly questionable after the Dublin Racing Festival.

Bossofthebrownies is extremely consistent, in the first three on nine of his 11 starts, and he’s been mixing it with smart rivals lately. The concern is that he’s only won once, so could be a little vulnerable to meeting one too good, but he can generally be relied upon to run his race if this isn’t coming too soon for him. The Wallpark is obviously high class over hurdles, but is still finding his feet over fences.

SELECTION: OSCARS BROTHER

Next best: Bossofthebrownies

4.20 William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Chase 3m

After an early fall last time when 9/4 favourite for the Amateur National Handicap Chase at Punchestown, Gringo d’Aubrelle has a chance of gaining compensation here for Gordon Elliott. After winning a valuable staying handicap hurdle here on testing ground in December, now up to 131 in that sphere, he could easily be well in as a chaser off 113. The fitting of cheekpieces for the first time should also help keep his mind on the job.

Banter At The Bar made a winning chase debut in a low-key contest last time and already looks a much better chaser than hurdler. This is another test for him, and he’s light on experience relative to some of these, but he has a nice deal of upside to him. Solly Attwell has the benefit of Michael Kenneally’s 5lb claim and isn’t out of the equation. A mark of 118 over fences for Kings Hill looks interesting whenever he fully comes to the boil as a chaser (handicap chase debut here)..

SELECTION: GRINGO D’AUBRELLE

Next best: Banter At The Bar

4.50 William Hill Bet 10 Get 5 On Irish Racing Bumper 2m

It’s obviously a little risk coming here off a 353-day absence, but Begorra Man posted two useful efforts last season and entered this campaign as a youngster worth watching. His fifth behind Kopek Des Bordes, Kawaboomga, Whinney Hill and Zillow in a Leopardstown Christmas Festival maiden hurdle last season (beaten 13 and a half lengths) was a fair effort, while Gameofinches, who beat him into second in a Punchestown bumper last February, ended up being a 6/1 shot for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham (ridden by Paul Townend there). Even the third and fourth from that Punchestown event have won bumpers since.

The market support that arrived for Let’s Go La Fichad before his Fairyhouse debut was striking. He ran too freely and has swicthed stables since. Soul Asylum was narrowly touched off on his only point-to-point start in November for Colin Bowe and joined Gordon Elliott/Gigginstown for £280,000 subsequently. In the same colours, Willie and Patrick Mullins are represented by two-mile-five-furlong GB point-to-point winner In A Sonnet (cost £135,000). Emmet Mullins’ French recruit Luidgi Du Luy was a 22-length third to a subsequent Grade 1 fourth at Auteuil in September.

SELECTION: BEGORRA MAN

Next best: Let’s Go La Fichad