Kevin Blake

12:05 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF BEGINNERS CHASE 2M

This race and indeed the whole card is all about the tremendously exciting Un De Sceaux. Willie Mullins’ tear-away six-year-old was unbeaten in seven starts over hurdles and looked set to see off a useful field with consummate ease on his chasing debut at Thurles last month, only to fall when well clear at the third-last fence. While watching him over fences will always be likely to be a heart-in-mouth experience, he is one of the most exciting horses in training and should not have too much trouble gaining compensation in this contest. Mind, he might have some competition for the early lead, as the Ronnie O’Neill-trained Rory O’Moore is a bit of a bolter himself and the first few fences promise to make for an exciting spectacle.

Selection: UN DE SCEAUX

Next Best: Rory O’Moore

12:35 PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS AT FAIRYHOUSE IN 2015 BEGINNERS CHASE 3M

Another very interesting maiden chase and the Sandra Hughes-trained Thunder And Roses could well emerge on top. The six-year-old has only found a total of three horses too good for him in his two outings over fences to date and all three of them are likely to make up into Grade 1-class performers. This is slightly easier company and he could well be up to capitalising on that fact. His main danger could well be the Tony Martin-trained Noble Emperor, as he wasn’t that far behind the selection at Fairyhouse last time and is open to improvement from what was his seasonal and chasing debut.

Selection: THUNDER AND ROSES

Next Best: Noble Emperor

1:05 BOOK ONLINE AT FAIRYHOUSE.IE 3-Y-O MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Willie Mullins won this with the subsequent Grade 1 winner Abbyssial last season and he looks to have the standard setter in this year’s renewal in the shape of Uradel. The son of Kallisto is a useful performer on the flat but he proved a bit disappointing on his hurdling debut a Navan last time. The steady pace did not help his cause on that occasion and he can be expected to improve significantly on that effort granted what is likely to be a more generous pace in this. Perhaps the most interesting hurdling debutant is the Gordon Elliott-trained Thunder Zone.

Selection: URADEL

Next Best: Thunder Zone

1:35 FAIRYHOUSE MEMBERSHIP 2015 MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 4F

Willie Mullins always poses a conundrum for punters when unveiling his French imports for the first time. While their French form doesn’t always stamp them as potential world beaters, Mullins has an uncanny knack of improving them. That could well be the case with Arbre De Vie. While he didn’t set the world alight in France, he warrants the utmost respect on his Irish debut. Noel Meade looks to have the main danger to the selection in the shape of Champoleon.

Selection: ARBRE DE VIE

Next Best: Champoleon

2:10 NEW YEARS DAY RACING AT FAIRYHOUSE HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 2M

Solid recent form is not in abundant supply here and the one that makes the most appeal is the John Ryan-trained Skehana Bridge. The six-year-old ran his best race yet when second to the gambled-on Leave At Dawn in a handicap hurdle at Thurles last time and it wouldn’t surprise to see him go one better in this weaker contest. The best of the rest looks to be the Charles O’Brien-trained Hurricane Sky based on his back-to-form second a Punchestown last time.

Selection: SKEHANA BRIDGE

Next Best: Hurricane Sky

2:45 MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM FAIRYHOUSE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M 7F

Competitive fare and marginal preference is given to the Dermot McLoughlin-trained Some Drama. The seven-year-old produced a career-best effort to finish second to Whatareudoingtome in a handicap at Navan last time and if he can build on that he will be tough to beat. Of the rest, the Paul Nolan-trained Triplets Joy has solid claims.

Selection: SOME DRAMA

Next Best: Triplets Joy

3:20 YOUR CLUBS FUNDRAISER AT FAIRYHOUSE, ENQUIRE TODAY FLAT RACE 2M

Willie Mullins has won this race three times in the last decade and he looks to have strong prospects of making it four with Stone Hard. A grandson of Ebony Jane, he realised no less than €215,000 as a three-year-old at Goffs and made his first repayment on that when making a winning debut in a point-to-point at Oldtown in March. Market support for him on his racecourse debut would be very encouraging. Henry de Bromhead has also won this race three times in the last decade and his Three Stars may represent the biggest danger to the selection.

Selection: STONE HARD

Next Best: Three Stars