12.40 Connolly’s Red Mills Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle

2m 4f

With Charles and Philip Byrnes in red-hot form (the stable responsible for four winners in the space of four days since last Sunday), Ifallgoeswell ought to go very close for the same combination. He got a 6lb rise for finishing second behind Holy See in a novice hurdle at Limerick over Christmas on much more testing ground than he’ll face here, but he did go close in a Naas bumper on good to yielding last spring, as well as a placed effort on decent ground at Kilbeggan last term. He must concede weight to all rivals here, but it’s hoped he can build on his latest effort.

On all known form, Forty Coats is the standout contender. A point-to-point and bumper winner, who finished second behind Wingmen, James’s Gate and Jacob’s Ladder in three different maiden hurdles before a cracking fourth (beaten 15 lengths) in the Turners’ Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, he is undoubtedly the class angle of the race.

However, it was a bitterly disappointing reappearance effort from him at Leopardstown over Christmas - admittedly in a better race than this - when beaten 23 lengths in seventh by Frankie John. Perhaps he was short of the run after 292 days off, but he needs to get back on track. Green Chef and Campbell Black are worth keeping an eye on for the future.

SELECTION: IFALLGOESWELL

Next best: Forty Coats

1.10 W.T. O’Grady & E.J. O’Grady Memorial Irish EBF Novice Hurdle 2m 6f

A race won in recent years by smart types such as The Storyteller, Monkfish, Gerri Colombe, Embassy Gardens and High Class Hero. Willie Mullins’ runners have stepped it up a gear this week and that must bode well for Espresso Milan, who won a maiden hurdle that probably didn’t feature any stars at Punchestown last time over two miles. He gave the impression then that a step up in trip could suit, and connections have given him a significant one. His half-sister was a Grade 3 winner over this trip for the same stable.

Jack Kennedy prefers Down Royal maiden hurdle winner Sept Etoiles to Tramore scorer American Jukebox, and that looks fairly accurate given the potential upside his mount has (makes just his third start here).

Long Branch needed every yard of the trip to win here last time and is clearly a useful staying prospect who can’t be dismissed lightly. Daydream Nation has the potential to improve at this longer distance but does need to.

SELECTION: ESPRESSO MILAN

Next best: Sept Etoiles

1.40 Most Stylish Racegoers Handicap Hurdle 2m

Cian Collins is understandably following a similar road back to Cheltenham this spring with his Grand Annual hero Jazzy Matty, and he got within a length and a quarter of the useful Samui when second in this race last year - his final start before collecting in the Cotswolds. This year’s race mightn’t be all that strong, he’s only 1lb higher and he got his eye in back over hurdles at Cheltenham when last seen finishing fifth in a 20-runner handicap hurdle in October. That has worked out a decent race, with the winner, French Ship, scoring readily next time and up a total of 18lb since, while the third-placed Bowensonfire is now 9lb higher after finishing second in a valuable Fairyhouse pot and winning at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Jazzy Matty is clearly a better chaser, but the gap between a mark of 142 over fences and 125 over hurdles still looks one that can be cashed in on at some stage.

Chichester Park probably didn’t win a strong maiden hurdle here last month, though there is every chance he’s got plenty of upside to him. He’s making his handicap debut, so could benefit from this initial experience. It’s worth keeping an eye on whether there is market confidence behind him as a reasonably promising novice. Eachtotheirown is sure to appreciate this drop in class from finishing down the field in the Royal Bond last time, and don’t discount Free Flow out-running his odds for a Ross O’Sullivan team among the winners this week.

SELECTION: JAZZY MATTY

Next best: Chichester Park

2.15 Carey Glass Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 2m 5f

This looks too good an opportunity for Jade De Grugy to pass up on. She lost little in defeat when second to The Big Westerner in a Grade 2 at Limerick over Christmas, and there is no rival of that calibre in this line-up. She perhaps hasn’t hit the heights that might have been expected of her early on in her chasing career, but a reproduction of what she showed at Limerick will be more than good enough to oblige here.

Tareze, a likeable sort who finished fourth in Grade 1 company at Fairyhouse last Easter, was safely enough held against the boys at Fairyhouse last month but her previous chasing form with July Flower and Flicker Of Hope reads reasonably well. She looks the biggest threat to the selection.

Cottesloe Sunshine hasn’t shown enough over fences to be considered a credible threat but she did win a listed mares’ novice hurdle here last season.

SELECTION: JADE DE GRUGY

Next best: Tareze

2.50 Support Thurles

Bookmakers Handicap Chase 2m 5f

Brave Fortune’s best performances have tended to come on decent ground - including a novice hurdle victory at this track when trained by Pat Doyle - and he possibly wouldn’t have been in love with soft conditions at Fairyhouse last time on his first start for Joseph O’Brien.

He was easy enough to back then and was returning from a break. It’s reasonable to expect we’ll get a much better read on where he stands now, with the fitness and ground boxes ticked, albeit he has been winning over further than this of late.

Rising Dust has been on a real roll for Emmet Mullins and was in no mood to be denied here before Christmas when making all. The handicapper didn’t miss him, raising him 15lb for an eight-length success. He’ll surely deliver another bold bid at a track that suits, but he does need to keep progressing to defy his new mark. Jigoro is unexposed as a chaser and now switches to handicaps for the first time so is worth a second look.

SELECTION: BRAVE FORTUNE

Next best: Rising Dust

3.20 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 66yd

Last year’s winner Appreciate It has better recent form than most of these in a Grade 2 that features mostly exposed chasers. He bumped into subsequent Savills Chase winner Affordale Fury when trying to give that rival 10lb in a listed chase on his comeback (beaten four and three quarters of a length in second) and if he can build on that, it will likely be enough to see him notch career win number 10 at the age of 12.

James Du Berlais came up short against younger rivals Iroko and Firefox at Ascot four weeks ago, but wasn’t disgraced (beaten six and a half lengths) and he could finish closest to the selection. He’s officially rated 1lb higher than Appreciate It, and is in receipt of 5lb.

Hercule Du Seuil’s third in the Fortria was relatively positive two starts ago, but the fact Mark Walsh prefers Gentleman De Mee, who is 10lb better off at the weights with the same owner’s runner, is potentially telling.

Monbeg Park is the only non-Willie Mullins-trained runner in the line-up and is a capable sort, but his rating of 147 means he’ll need others to underperform.

SELECTION: APPRECIATE IT

Next best: James Du Berlais

3.55 SIS Supporting Irish Racing Hunters Chase 3m 1f

Former listed-winning novice hurdler and 137-rated chaser Solitary Man is a talented recruit to the point-to-point/hunter chase sphere and, given his preference for nicer ground, it makes sense that we could see the best of him at a track like this.

He should have gained confidence from an easy win in an open for novice riders at Rathcannon when last seen in October, and Josh Halford’s 7lb claim will be a help given he must concede weight to all bar one of his 12 rivals.

Willitgoahead won this race last year before being sold privately to Gordon Elliott and Bective Stud and finishing third at the Cheltenham Festival. A reproduction of his second to Its On The Line at Down Royal on St Stephen’s Day clearly makes him a tough nut to crack.

Catalani, third in a Fairyhouse point-to-point bumper last time, has no short of experience between the flags and is bound to win races in this code. Aintree third Lifetime Ambition, Limerick Christmas winner Last Round and twice Paddy Power Chase-placed Panda Boy add depth to the race.

SELECTION: SOLITARY MAN

Next best: Willitgoahead