Ryan McElligott

2.00 AUDREY MCGRATH MEMORIAL MAIDEN HURDLE 2M

Papal Motel hasn’t enjoyed the best of fortune on his last couple of starts but several of his previous efforts make him a strong contender for this maiden hurdle. He was pulled-up at Bellewstown on Thursday after being badly hampered at the first and prior to that a bad early mistake in a Galway handicap ended his chances. However, runner-up finishes behind Whiskey Sour and Nessun Dorma earlier this season would suggest that a maiden success is well within his grasp.

Glorious Legend is a notable runner as he tackles hurdles for the first time on his debut for Willie Mullins. He won a one-mile six-furlong handicap at Salisbury last season off a mark of 61 and could do well in this sphere. Successor and Skeaping are others that have the capacity to be closely involved.

Selection: PAPAL MOTEL

Next Best: Glorious Legend

2.35 GARY FLOOD LANDSCAPING MARES HANDICAP HURDLE (80-102) 2M

This could fall to Hugh Divots whose last two efforts would suggest that she can make her mark at this level. On her penultimate start she was a close fourth to Athloman Cottage in a Tramore handicap and she filled the same position behind Oskar High at Killarney last week. With better luck in running in the closing stages of those races she would probably have finished a little closer.

Lockeen Girl will need to improve on her latest showing at Tramore but it is worth recalling that she has filled the runner-up spot in two and a half-mile handicaps on her last two visits to this track. The drop back to two miles shouldn’t be a problem for her.

Selection: HUGH DIVOTS

Next Best: Lockeen Girl

3.10 ALL NEW RENAULT KOLEOS HANDICAP HURDLE (80-95) 2M4F

West Light is a hopeful choice to record the first success of his career. He was having his first run since September when finishing down the field in a Tipperary handicap in July and he looked to improve on that when he was fifth to Kilganer Queen at Sligo last week. A switch to better ground could help him and a return to the form that saw him finish fourth to The Jazz Singer in a Navan handicap last autumn would give him a major chance.

Beneficial Society must have every chance as she looks to follow up a victory at Ballinrobe where she accounted for the subsequent winner Darkest Flyer. Ali Bin Nayef has been running well lately and is another that warrants close consideration.

Selection: WEST LIGHT

Next Best: Beneficial Society

3.45 M2 CONSTRUCTION MARES MAIDEN HURDLE 3M

A deserved success can come the way of High Nellie whose recent efforts make her the one to beat. Last time out she was touched off by Hey Little Boy in a two-mile maiden at Tramore and at the start of the season she showed up very well to chase home Tellthemnuttin in a handicap hurdle over this course and distance.

It wouldn’t come as any surprise if she was given most to do by Become Legend. The latter has yet to reach the frame in three starts and was a long way adrift of the selection on her jumping debut at Tramore last month. Possibly a step up to this trip on better ground and the application of a hood could help her cause and she wasn’t beaten all that far on her two bumper runs.

Mistheatre would have prospects on a couple of her efforts in maidens this season.

Selection: HIGH NELLIE

Next Best: Become Legend

4.20 SULZER NOVICE CHASE 2M

Liam Kenny’s A Rated turned in a nice effort to win a near two and a half-mile beginner’s chase at Kilbeggan last month. On that occasion he jumped superbly and relished the good ground and the manner of his performance there would suggest that he is capable of handling this drop down in trip. This is an appreciably better race but he looks equal to the task at hand.

Our Dougal might be the one that gives him most to do. He is dropping down in class after contesting a Galway Grade 3 last time, where he ran better than his final placing would suggest, and previously he won nicely at Killarney. He is a useful sort and looks more than good enough to play a leading role here.

Selection: A RATED

Next Best: Our Dougal

4.55 JOHN CULLEN GRAIN LTD HANDICAP CHASE (0-102) 3M1F 50YDS

Crocodile Dundee will have to shoulder top weight but he looks up to making his mark in this grade. His last couple of handicap runs have been quite encouraging and he followed a second to The Trigger at Killarney in July with a fine runner-up effort behind Presenting Julio at that track last week. This longer trip could easily work in his favour and he is unlikely to meet a horse of the same potential of Presenting Julio here.

Naughty Molly has run a series of good races lately with her latest outing seeing her lose out by just a neck to Tomcoole Lad in a handicap chase at Tramore. She should again challenge strongly for victory.

Selection: CROCODILE DUNDEE

Next Best: Naughty Molly

5.30 IRISH STALLION FARMS EBF HANDICAP CHASE 2M

Magnetic Force wasn’t at his best best at Downpatrick on Monday but he is worth another chance. The two mile three furlong trip of that race might just have stretched him and this looks a more suitable distance as evidenced by efforts such as his second to Jack The Wire at Tipperary in July.

Bellgrove hasn’t won for over two years but should be closely involved and he indicated a win wasn’t too far away when running a close second to Line Out at Tramore last month.

Selection: MAGNETIC FORCE

Next Best: Bellgrove