1.35 Concept Colours Rated Novice Chase 2m

It’s a concern that he is sticking to the minimum distance as he looked in need of a longer trip when turned over as 8/15 favourite at Naas last time, but Mister Policeman gets the nod to double his tally over fences. He wasn’t flashy when winning on his chasing bow at Fairyhouse but connections rate him highly and this doesn’t look the deepest of races for a horse with his potential.

Arctic Bresil will appreciate dropping back in distance after weakening out of it over two and a half miles at Gowran on testing ground last time. He’s another who has promised plenty (£305,000 point-to-point recruit) and should be thereabouts if the selection fails to fire.

SELECTION: MISTER POLICEMAN

Next best: Arctic Bresil

2.05 QuinnBet Beginners Chase

2m 7f

This looks an excellent opportunity for Senior Chief to get off the mark over fences for Henry de Bromhead. He showed a fair deal of promise when second at Navan last time to Minella Cocooner, who ultimately didn’t do much for the form when a well-held third in the Ten Up Novice Chase last weekend. However, this contest lacks real depth and a reproduction of Senior Chief’s last effort should be enough for him to collect here.

Klarc Kent fell two fences from home last time behind Senior Chief and needs to sharpen up his jumping, but he was staying on in the process on that occasion. He might be the one to pick up maximum place money with a blemish-free round.

SELECTION: SENIOR CHIEF

Next best: Klarc Kent

2.35 QuinnBet Grand National Trial Handicap Chase (Listed) 3m 3f

Gordon Elliott and Gigginstown House Stud have a tremendous record in this race, including success with horses who had a question to answer in terms of their recent form. Frontal Assault hasn’t been running too badly but this stamina test ought to play to his strengths and a cut in the ground isn’t a worry for him either. He needs to show more than last time in an ultra-competitive Thyestes but this is a lesser race and he showed up reasonably well when fourth in the Porterstown and fifth in the Troytown prior to that.

With Danny Gilligan’s 5lb claim a bonus, he might just be able to put it all together off 1lb higher than when runner-up in the Irish Grand National two seasons ago.

The application of first-time cheekpieces on Street Value looks a shrewd move and this type of race might be more his cup of tea than last time in the Thyestes, and the time before over an inadequate two and a half miles. It’s possible Queen Jane could appreciate this marked step up in trip, while Thyestes fourth Stormy Judge is another live candidate if able to build on what he showed last time.

SELECTION: FRONTAL ASSAULT

Next best: Street Value

3.05 Madigan Group Irish EBF Sheila Bourke Novice Hurdle (Listed) 2m

A cracking edition of this listed event in which a chance is taken on No Flies On Him for Edward O’Grady and J.P. McManus. He looked a potentially high-class sort when winning a Leopardstown Christmas Festival maiden hurdle and should be right in the firing line if sharp enough for a test like this against more battle-hardened rivals.

In terms of how the form of that maiden hurdle has worked out, runner-up D B Cooper sadly suffered a fatal injury on his next start as a 10/11 chance, the 131-rated third Ascending was a tad disappointing when fifth at Navan last weekend, fourth-placed Kings Hill won at Thurles on Tuesday, eighth-placed Liber Nicc was an eyecatching third in a Fairyhouse bumper and the 11th Anotherway bolted up in a maiden hurdle here last month.

Tullyhill’s superior experience makes him a serious threat, albeit the maiden hurdle he won last time probably wasn’t immensely deep. He has a touch of class and is expected to be a strong stayer at the trip. Jigoro, representing Gordon Elliott, will put the Moscow Flyer form of Mystical Power to the test and is no slouch in his own right. Tramore maiden hurdle winner Boldog (Joseph O’Brien) is in deeper waters now but looks a fairly bright prospect too.

SELECTION: NO FLIES ON HIM

Next best: Tullyhill

3.40 Old House Kill

Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

He admittedly didn’t really get his rivals into a sweat on either of his first two starts since bought for £85,000 from the point-to-point fields but Syracus Du Houx has been bumping into quality opposition and looks to be in a more manageable contest here.

Oliver McKiernan’s six-year-old was a six-length second to Grade 3 For Auction Novice Hurdle winner What’s Up Darling (a leading player in today’s Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran) and there was plenty of depth to the Naas maiden hurdle he finished a 20-length sixth in last time. Winner Slade Steel has franked that form by winning a Grade 2 and finishing second in a Grade 1 since, runner-up King Of Kingsfield was subsequently second in the Grade 1 Royal Bond and won at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival, while the third and fourth have been second in their next starts in maiden hurdles. That was the selection’s first start for 192 days so improvement is possible.

Paggane was slightly disappointing behind a smart winner last time at Punchestown and needs to raise her game now taking on the boys. She should win one of these somewhere along the way, though. Majestic Force, bought for £120,000 after winning a point-to-point in December, is another interesting candidate worth respecting.

SELECTION: SYRACUS DU HOUX

Next best: Paggane

4.10 David Trundley Artist

At Punchestown Novice

Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f

Four of the 12 runners won last time out so this is a competitive affair. Jeriko De Baune is a tough five-year-old with a likeable attitude but he’ll need to keep improving to overcome an 8lb rise for his last success. Instead, preference is for the Ted Walsh-trained Buachaillbocht, who has been progressing with his racing and battled back admirably to score here last time. He might have more to come from his mark of 106.

Cases can be made for a fair few of these and Howdoyalikeherhome probably deserves a decent mention. Pat Foley’s five-year-old has been running creditably enough in maiden hurdles and should appreciate trying a handicap now for the first time.

SELECTION: BUACHAILLBOCHT

Next best: Howdoyalikeherhome

4.40 Lockton Insurance Brokers

Supporting Athy Rugby Bumper 2m

Sounds Victorius was an eyecatching second at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and the fact Patrick Mullins favours him over stablemate Inn At The Park is enough for him to get the vote in the final contest. The Mullins camp have won this race in the last two years with Ballyburn and James’s Gate. Inn At The Park was third to the talented Jalon D’oudairies on his rules debut at Fairyhouse in December, while Gordon Elliott relies on Masterboy Davis, a runner-up on his sole start between the flags who now lines up in the Gigginstown silks.

SELECTION: SOUNDS VICTORIUS

Next best: Inn At The Park