Kevin Blake

2:25 STUDENT RACEDAY 15TH & 16TH APRIL MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 5F

A typically modest maiden hurdle for this late stage of the season and a good opportunity for the Jim Dreaper-trained Venitien De Mai. The six-year-old won all four of his starts in point-to-points and has established a solid level of form in four starts over hurdles. Conditions will suit and another bold bid is likely to be forthcoming. Perhaps his most interesting rival is the Pat O’Connor-trained Time Is Time, with the six-year-old having won a point-to-point at Knockanard last time.

Selection: VENITIEN DE MAI

Next Best: Time Is Time

3:00 €19 PUNTERS PACK MARES MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 3F

A wide-open maiden hurdle and the Willie Austin-trained Emcon looks to have strong claims. She won a bumper at Cork in November and ran well when second in a maiden hurdle at Navan in December. She perhaps needed the run on her return from a break at Downpatrick last time and will go close if bouncing back to her best in this. A solid alternative is the Mick Winters-trained Perfect Woman, with the seven-year-old having gone close in her last few starts.

Selection: EMCON

Next Best: Perfect Woman

3:35 BOOK ONLINE AT WWW.LIMERICKRACES.IE (C & G) MAIDEN HURDLE 2M 3F

Not a strong maiden hurdle and the Michael Hourigan-trained The Gatechecker stands out like a sore thumb from his rivals. The winner of a point-to-point at Ballingarry, he bolted up in a bumper at Limerick’s Christmas meeting. He is by far the best prospect in this race and presuming he is ready to go for his hurdling debut on his return from a short break, he will be very tough to beat. Of the rest, the Eddie Hales-trained On Fiddlers Green made a solid hurdling debut at Naas last time and should run well.

Selection: THE GATECHECKER

Next Best: On Fiddlers Green

4:10 LIMERICK FAMILY FUN DAY 29TH MARCH HANDICAP HURDLE (80-109) 2M

The Ray Hackett-trained Bold Optimist looked a really smart prospect at the start of his career, but he has had a litany of problems and has been lightly raced as a result. He got off the mark over hurdles in a handicap at Punchestown last time and with this shorter trip to suit, he could well be up to defying a 5lb higher mark. The Seamus Fahey-trained Black Ice is a fair alternative to the selection based on his solid run at Down Royal last time.

Selection: BOLD OPTIMIST

Next Best: Black Ice

4:45 FOLLOW LIMERICK RACECOURSE ON TWITTER HANDICAP HURDLE (80-95) 3M

The Johnny Feane-trained Mr Shankly landed a gamble when winning at Fairyhouse in January and was perhaps turned out too quickly when a beaten favourite at Down Royal last time. He has been freshened up since then and it wouldn’t surprise to see him bounce back to form. An interesting one against him is the Edward Cawley-trained Flemenstorm, with the seven-year-old having made a promising handicap hurdle debut at Navan last time.

Selection: MR SHANKLY

Next Best: Flemenstorm

5:20 €59 HOSPITALITY PACKAGES AT LIMERICK RACECOURSE (PRO/AM) FLAT RACE 2M

Just one piece of form on show here, with the Dessie McDonogh-trained Man Of Conquest having finished third to the exciting Disko in a bumper at Punchestown last time. He is entitled to improve from that and while this more testing ground is probably not ideal, he is the selection. Of the newcomers, the Charlie Swan-trained Vinciaettis, with the son of Enrique having realised €28,000 as a three-year-old.

Selection: MAN OF CONQUEST

Next Best: Vinciaettis

5:55 RACING AGAIN AT LIMERICK TOMORROW (LADIES) MARES FLAT RACE 2M

An interesting winners’ bumper and where else to start but with Willie Mullins and his Kate Appleby Shoes. The six-year-old made it fifth-time lucky when producing a much-improved effort to bolt up in a bumper at Gowran Park last time and a repeat of that effort will make her hard to beat. Of the other winners, the Gavin Cromwell-trained Elusive Ivy makes the most appeal.

Selection: KATE APPLEBY SHOES

Next Best: Elusive Ivy