1:20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Chase 2m 4f

This looks like a very nice opportunity for Abbey Magic, the top rated, but receiving 5lbs off four of her six rivals. She showed she is well worth her mark of 139 when running an excellent race to be third to Rapid Response at the festival here last month and any sort of replication of that level will see her win.

Contingency is a useful mare on her day but was well held in that same festival race. She can do better in now in a smaller field but her stablemate Sapphire Lady might give the selection most to do. Freshened up since disappointing slightly in a Grade 3 contest in December, she has some nice hurdles form, goes well fresh and should enjoy this quicker surface.

SELECTION: ABBEY MAGIC

Next best: Sapphire Lady

1:50 Ladbrokes Handicap Chase 2m

Henry de Bromhead has four runners in this handicap chase and perhaps it is significant Rachael Blackmore teams up with the unexposed Le Musigny. The J.P. McManus-owned gelding hasn’t been seen since running fifth to Easywork in a useful beginners’ chase at Navan in November. A mark of 131 may underestimate his ability now and his jockey booking may signify that. The forecast soft ground also looks in his favour.

Quicker ground would probably be better for Andalusa. She ran really well behind Sully D’Oc AA in the big two-mile handicap chase at the festival here last month and that brings her right into this. Most of her best form is on good ground so if it does dry out, she’d be the selection. Battleoverdoyen, disappointing after an excellent seasonal debut win at Down Royal, must shoulder top-weight but can’t be discounted.

SELECTION: LE MUSIGNY

Next best: Andalusa

2:25 Ladbrokes Committed Safer Gambling Hurdle 2m 3f 130y

Bapaume is a solid option, having won two of his last three but at a likely short price, he could be susceptible to a couple of his rivals here, conceding weight to the likes of Bleu Berry, Robin Des Foret and Snow Falcon.

Bleu Berry is perhaps the most interesting. The former Coral Cup winner was 780 days off the track before making his comeback in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle won by stablemate Koshari at the festival here last month, and he ran well enough in that contest, 12th of 24, beaten just over 10 lengths.

With that run behind him, perhaps he can do better now and the likely soft ground should also help him.

Robin Des Foret is having his first start for John McConnell, having developed a strong-travelling-weak-finishing reputation when racing for Willie Mullins. That said, he has a five-from-nine record over hurdles and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he ran well again.

SELECTION: BLEU BERRY

Next best: Robin Des Foret

3:00 Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Maiden Hurdle (Div 1) 2m 100y

Persia could be head and shoulders above these rivals. Rated as high as 100 on the flat, the son of Galileo made a pleasing hurdles debut when fourth to Coltor at Naas in January. He hasn’t been seen since that effort so may have had a slight setback but in turn, the level of opposition he faces now looks considerably lower than his debut effort.

Sevenna Star is another classy flat recruit (peaked at a rating of 107) that is interesting but as yet hasn’t sparked for his switch of discipline.

Lonesome Boatman perhaps has better prospects of doing just that, having run well enough on both of his bumper starts, particularly the first when fifth to Harry Alonzo at Leopardstown over Christmas.

SELECTION: PERSIA

Next best: Lonesome Boatman

3:35 Ladbrokes Home Of The Odds Boost Maiden Hurdle (Div 2) 2m 100y

General Counsel makes the most appeal. Pat Fahy’s gelding is only having his fourth ever start at the age of eight but he has some notable form on his only two hurdles starts, most notably when finishing a neck second to Jason The Militant in a Limerick maiden hurdle in 2019.

He was 497 days off the track between that effort and his recent Cork run, but performed with credit, finishing under 10 lengths away from Meticulous in fourth.

Banbridge set himself up for his hurdling bow with a comfortable bumper win at Killarney. He can go well but the second vote goes to The Greek, who has finished second on each of his last three starts. He can put that experience to good use today.

SELECTION: GENERAL COUNSEL

Next best: The Greek

4:10 Ladbrokes ‘Play 1-2-Free’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 100y

The admirable Bridge Native might be the one to be on in this competitive handicap hurdle.

Ciaran Murphy’s mare has progressed through the ranks in recent seasons, mostly over fences where she now has holds a mark of 135. She remains on 120 over hurdles and that looks exploitable considering how well she ran when third to An Fraoch Mor at Wexford two weeks ago.

She takes on that runner again here, but on 6lb better terms, and she just looks likely to put up another bold show.

Winner Takes Itall could be a significant danger, especially if he becomes positively active in the market. He was well supported in a good handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and although he disappointed, the confidence in him was significant and backs up the impression that he could be nicely treated off a mark of 119 over hurdles, given his flat rating of 94.

SELECTION: BRIDGE NATIVE

Next best: Winner Takes Itall

4:45 Ladbrokes INH Flat Race 2m 100y

Willie Mullins introduced a real prospect in the Cheveley Park Stud-owned Classic Getaway at Tipperary this week and he probably has another very smart type in Grangeclare West for the same owners. A £430,000 purchase, the son of Presenting won a Lingstown point-to-point last November and should have too much for his rivals today, with Jody Townend’s 7lb claim an added bonus.

Time Marches On can give him most to do. James Motherway’s five-year-old has performed with credit on both of his two starts, most recently when fourth to My Mate Mozzie at the festival here last month.

SELECTION: GRANGECLARE WEST

Next best: Time Marches On