1.42 Sea Moon & Jukebox Jury At Burgage Stud Maiden Hurdle 2m

JCB Triumph Hurdle entry Media Naranja gets a tentative nod in the opening four-year-old maiden hurdle on her debut for Gordon Elliott and Bective Stud. Bought for 110,000gns at a Tattersalls online sale in December, the daughter of Yeats won on her only start in France when scoring by eight lengths in a Craon fillies’ maiden over a mile and a half. She is also bred to be useful as a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Mossy Fen.

Mighty Mo Missouri has the experience of four hurdles runs on his side and posted his best effort yet in this sphere when runner-up to Byker in a Naas maiden hurdle. He shouldn’t be far away again, though Zanndabad, who finished fourth in the same Naas event last time, looks open to a further improvement.

SELECTION: MEDIA NARANJA

Next best: Mighty Mo Missouri

2.17 Red Mills Trial Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

This looks an excellent opportunity for six-time Grade 1 winner Sharjah to register his first success of the season after coming up short against stablemate State Man on his last two runs. Facing five inferior rivals here, the Willie Mullins-trained 10-year-old can afford to run a little below his rating of 158 and still collect, though he was arguably a bit disappointing when last seen losing his Matheson Hurdle crown at Leopardstown.

Fil Dor, runner-up in a trio of Grade 1s behind Vauban last season, reverts to hurdles after being unable to cope with a ferocious pace over fences in the Goffs Irish Arkle over two miles and one furlong a fortnight ago. It looks as though he likely needs further to be seen at his best and the five-year-old must bounce back to form. It will be fascinating to see how Da Capo Glory, a wide-margin maiden hurdle winner here last March, fares on his first start since last year’s Punchestown Festival when third in a two-mile novice hurdle to El Fabiolo.

SELECTION: SHARJAH

Next best: Fil Dor

2.52 Tote Fantasy Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

A 1lb nudge from the handicapper for his latest effort when second at Fairyhouse in December means Flying Scotsman manages to just about remain eligible to run in this grade, and he makes plenty of appeal in this handicap hurdle over two and a half miles. Aidan Kelly’s 7lb claim eases his burden and conditions shouldn’t inconvenience this dual soft-ground winner.

It’s easy to make cases for a few of these, though. Slane Hill got his act together close home when staying on into third in a course-and-distance handicap hurdle on Thyestes day and could have more to offer. He was raised 2lb by the assessor for that effort, but rider Michael O’Sullivan can claim 3lb more this weekend than last time. Ardera Ru, representing local trainer Eoin Doyle, steps up in class after a decisive win at Tramore and appears to be in a good place this term.

SELECTION: FLYING SCOTSMAN

Next best: Slane Hill

3.27 Red Mills Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f

Willie Mullins holds the key to Gowran Park’s feature event as Haut En Couleurs bids to atone for a fall at the final fence in the Grade 2 Horse & Jockey Hotel Chase last time when looking likely to oblige. However, the classy six-year-old is not the highest-rated runner in the line-up as stablemate Capodanno, who has been absent since bolting up in the Grade 1 Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase at last year’s Punchestown Festival, makes his seasonal reappearance. Haut En Couleurs, rated 155, is officially deemed 5lb inferior to Capodanno but gets a 9lb pull at the weights due to the top-rated performer being penalised for his Punchestown win.

It’s possible that Capodanno will not be at concert pitch for this assignment, and the trip could be shorter than ideal, but he has shown plenty of potential and may only begin to reach his peak now at the age of seven.

Haut En Couleurs has won just once in his eight starts for the champion trainer so might not be entirely bombproof at likely skinny odds. Darasso is a rock-solid campaigner with a fine record in small-field events such as this and should be on the premises again.

SELECTION: CAPODANNO

Next best: Haut En Couleurs

4.02 Joan Hodgins Memorial Supporting The Irish Injured Jockeys Fund Beginners Chase 2m 4f

This does not look a particularly strong beginners’ chase and a chance is taken on the Barry Connell-trained My Immortal to make a winning debut over fences on ground that shouldn’t inconvenience him. His mark of 134 over hurdles looks favourable compared to the level of ability his rivals showed in that sphere, and connections have previously said that this former point-to-point winner could develop into a smart chasing type.

Where It All Began, another chasing debutant, is rated 125 over hurdles but has scope to improve over fences and enjoys an ease in the ground. Grandero Bello arguably may have beaten Bronn in a three-runner beginners’ chase last time if putting more pressure on the winner earlier, but he’s developing into a capable chaser who is entitled to be on the premises again. Macs Charm readily landed a handicap hurdle on this card last year but needs to improve from when well beaten on his chasing debut at Fairyhouse in December.

SELECTION: MY IMMORTAL

Next best: Where It All Began

4.37 Careys Cottage Cup Handicap Chase 2m 4f

It looks a shrewd move from Eoin Doyle to snap up Rob James for the ride on Optional Mix in this two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase, with the talented amateur rider’s 7lb allowance one of the best-value claims over fences. This seven-year-old mare has been extremely consistent and emerged with credit from her second in a handicap hurdle on Thyestes day when runner-up to the well-handicapped Bluebell Diva. James’ claim helps offset the fact this four-time winner is rated 4lb higher over fences than hurdles.

Better Times Ahead disappointed when the subject of decent market support three weeks ago at Fairyhouse but could show better on his second handicap chase start, while Kalli’s Quest isn’t discounted off bottom weight. One of the most lightly raced 10-year-old mares in training, she had yet to be asked for her effort when falling two fences from home at Fairyhouse last month.

SELECTION: OPTIONAL MIX

Next best: Kalli’s Quest

5.12 Ronan Lawlor Memorial Irish EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race 2m 1f

Gordon Elliott has won this race in recent years with useful mares Queens Brook and Daylight Katie, so it will be intriguing to see how his newcomer Brighterdaysahead fares on her introduction for the Cullentra trainer and Gigginstown House Stud. A four-year-old filly by Kapgarde, she is bred in the purple as a half-sister to the stable’s four-time Grade 1 winner Mighty Potter and the talented French Dynamite. Elliott also runs recent Punchestown second Why Delilah, who shaped as though she’d learn a fair deal for her debut experience on that occasion. Improvement is likely.

Willie Mullins and Susannah Ricci are represented by Iris Emery, a €20,000 purchase as a three-year-old who is a half-sister to a dual listed handicap chase winner in France, and Vedetta Star is another interesting newcomer for Peter Fahey and the Winning Ways Syndicate. A €50,000 purchase at three, she boasts a lovely pedigree as a sister to Grade 3 Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase winner Good Boy Bobby and a half-sister to Grade 3 novice chase winner Enniskerry. Her dam is also a sister to the top class Voler La Vedette.

SELECTION: BRIGHTERDAYSAHEAD

Next best: Vedetta Star