3.50 IRISH STALLION FARMS EUROPEAN BREEDERS FUND MARES CHAMPION HURDLE (Grade 1) 2M4F

Airlie Beach: Looked a high-class mare prior to this season, when well beaten on both starts. Unbeaten in seven runs up to December, she only beat two horses home in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham in March. Better was expected at Fairyhouse last time but again she finished towards the rear. It would be a mistake to write her off but she has plenty to prove now.

Apple’s Jade: Has had a wonderful season and can finish on a high here provided her Cheltenham exploits haven’t taken a toll. The five-year-old produced a career best performance in winning the Mares Hurdle at the festival, showing real battling qualities to do so. She also won the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle earlier in the year, just a week after being denied in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. An impressive win here would see her go for her summer break as a leading contender for next year’s Champion Hurdle.

Augusta Kate: Leading bumper mare last season who has done little wrong in light campaign to date. Still in contention when a final-flight faller at Naas in January, she ran with credit over 3m at Cheltenham, before showing her true ability dropped to 2m4f last time. Her freshness will stand her in good stead here so she has to be a leading contender.

Barra: Second in the Grade 2 Mares’ Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham but not as good on most recent starts. Found Augusta Kate too strong at Fairyhouse earlier in the month and well-beaten here on Thursday. Big ask going to the well again so soon, especially taking on stronger opposition here.

Karalee: Takes a big step up in class in this race having previously justified odds-on favouritism at Killarney and Limerick respectively. The fact Ruby Walsh has picked her from his stable’s four runners is surely significant and she has to be respected. Having said all that, it would be a surprise were she to upset the favourite.

Lady Buttons: In the form of her life having won her last three races. However, has been running in handicap company so faces vastly superior opponents now. Certainly deserving of the chance to run in higher grade but difficult to fancy.

Whiteout: A surprise winner when upsetting better fancied stablemate here last year. Looks to have plenty to do against this opposition but this race may have been the plan for some time.

Verdict

APPLE’S JADE is the class act in this field so should prove far too strong for her rivals. A leading juvenile last year, she has progressed as a five-year-old and could be a genuine Champion Hurdle contender in time. Whiteout looks to face an uphill task but has likely had this race as a long term target.

4.25 AES CHAMPION

FOUR YEAR OLD HURDLE

(Grade 1) 2M

Bapaume: Beat Mega Fortune twice earlier in season but has finished behind him twice since. Ran a big race when third at Cheltenham last time out, which puts him in with a live chance now. Significant that Ruby Walsh chooses him over stablemates.

Dandy Mag: Impressive on Irish debut but never got involved in Triumph Hurdle. Showed much like his old form when second at Fairyhouse on latest start. Small field should suit him better here so has to be considered.

Landofhopeandglory: A leading juvenile earlier in the campaign but struggled as the winter ground set in. He returned to something like his best form when fifth at Cheltenham. He would be a threat to all if he isn’t feeling the effects of a long campaign.

Mega Fortune: Looked an improved horse for the fitting of cheekpieces on his two most recent starts. Having worn them previously on the flat, he was fitted with the headgear when successful at Grade 1 level at Leopardstown in February. He stepped up on that form when second in the Triumph Hurdle last time at Cheltenham. A tight front-running track should bring out even more in the horse and he can make all here.

On The Go Again: Showed ability on the level and got off the mark at the first time of asking over hurdles. Struggled when stepped up to Grade 2 company at Fairyhouse this month. Faces a stiff task.

Dinaria Des Obeaux: Impressive maiden hurdle winner at Cork on Irish debut. Had looked a leading juvenile on that run but found out at Grade 1 level on later outings. Her front-running tactics could make her interesting now but might struggle to lie up on this faster ground.

Meri Devie: Lightly-raced dark horse who should not be ruled out. Fresher than most. Confidence would have been higher had Ruby Walsh elected to ride but still of interest back from a break.

VERDICT

MEGA FORTUNE looks ideally suited to this track where he can race prominently and grind out a result. He has been in superb form since cheekpieces were fitted on his penultimate outing. Meri Devie arrives here fresher than most having been off since Leopardstown in February and she may give the selection most to do.

REST OF CARD

2.35 DOOLEY INSURANCES CROSS COUNTRY CHASE 3M

Ballyboker Bridge has been lightly raced since winning over this course in January 2016. He has been placed here on three outings since and also run with credit at the Cheltenham Festival on two occasions. Trips in excess of 3m4f just seem to stretch him, so returning to this distance will be very much in his favour now. Despite doing most of his winning on soft ground, his trainer has always felt he would handle it faster, so he should be at home in these conditions. Colour Squadron was a decent handicap chaser over 2m4f at his best and has won a point-to-point over this trip.

Although he has looked a doubtful stayer on a few runs at this level, he has been racing on softer ground, so the better surface should hopefully help him stay here. If that proves to be the case then he has to have a serious chance, as he is the class horse in the field.

Selection: BALLYBOKER BRIDGE

Next Best: Colour Squadron

3.10 THREE.IE HANDICAP CHASE 3M6F

Bless The Wings finished runner-up in the Irish Grand National for the second year in succession, when chasing home Our Duke earlier this month. Time may show that he faced an impossible task on that occasion, with Jessica Harrington’s horse looking a well-above-average winner.

Gordon Elliott’s horse has also twice finished second over this trip in the Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham, so looks ideally suited to a real stamina test. He deserves to get his head in front and connections will be hoping this may finally be his day.

White Arm seemed to be crying out for a step up in trip prior to winning over 3m at Fairyhouse last time. Despite taking a hike for that performance, he remains unexposed at extreme distances and gets the chance to show what he can do now. A slight concern is that he isn’t always the best of jumpers but if he gets into a rhythm early then he should be involved at the finish.

Selection: BLESS THE WINGS

Next Best: White Arm

5.00 PALMERSTOWN HOUSE PAT TAAFFE HANDICAP CHASE 3M

Sandymount Duke can continue the excellent recent run of the Jessica Harrington stable by taking the spoils. A maiden hurdle winner at this track, he was also third in Grade 1 company here last year. Although needing to bounce back from a poor run last time, the Ronnie Wood-owned gelding had excuses given the testing conditions. He could be very well in here if ready after a winter break.

The Crafty Butcher finally gets an opportunity to show that he is well handicapped off his current chase mark. The 10-year-old was a leading fancy for many of the season’s premier staying handicaps but was balloted out each time. He ran as well as could have been expected at Wexford last time, especially given the track would not have played to his strengths. Despite looking as though a real test would suit better he looks capable of going very close in this.

Selection: SANDYMOUNT DUKE

Next Best: The Crafty Butcher

5.35 BALLYMORE HANDICAP HURDLE 2M4F

Thomas Hobson should prove difficult to beat here despite the large field. Willie Mullins’s runner was an impressive winner at Fairyhouse last time and races here under a 7lb penalty. Already proven over both course and distance, the former high class flat handicapper looks to have a leading chance. Katie Walsh has been handed the chance to partner the seven-year-old and he will certainly lack nothing from the saddle.

Scoir Mear was noted making eyecatching late headway when nearest at the finish in the Coral Cup last time. Prior to that effort he had been very consistent on easier going during the winter months. Better ground undoubtedly suits the JP McManus-owned grey and he can get involved at the business end of this race.

Selection: THOMAS HOBSON

Next Best: Scoir Mear

6.10 ATTHERACES.COM PRO/AM FLAT RACE 2M

The Shearers Wife is a token selection in a difficult race where there is no form to go on. The four-year-old represents the Gordon Elliott-Jamie Codd team, two men who have something to fight for this week. With Elliott almost assured of a first trainers’ championship and Codd battling it out with Patrick Mullins for the amateur championship, they are sure to have kept a decent horse for this race.

Following on from that theory, Sparky Stowaway is put forward as the main danger to the Elliott runner. Tom Mullins gives his nephew Patrick the leg up on the five-year-old, so the hint should be taken.

Selection: THE SHEARERS WIFE

Next Best: Sparky Stowaway