1.40 Cosy Roof Maiden Hurdle 2m 5f 160yds

Michael O’Sullivan, Gordon Elliott and Caldwell Construction can successfully combine to repeat their Cheltenham Festival-winning partnership of Jazzy Matty with Smooth Player in the opener on Ulster National day. A reproduction of this battle-hardened six-year-old’s latest effort when second to Thecompanysergeant at Naas should be good enough to win this. Law Ella wouldn’t be a surprise winner but she’s been a touch disappointing over hurdles so far, given the promise she showed in bumpers last season.

SELECTION: SMOOTH PLAYER

Next best: Law Ella

2.15 Billie And Bertie FitzGerald Memorial Handicap Hurdle 2m 5f 160yds

Siding with a horse who has failed to complete on three of his last four starts is not usually advised, but those incompletions came over fences for Speed Gang and reverting to hurdles could see a much different outcome. The Gavin Cromwell-trained six-year-old wasn’t beaten far on his last start in this sphere and remains largely unexposed. Drumderry Harlem could be one to appreciate this sort of test on the evidence of her penultimate run when second at Clonmel.

SELECTION: SPEED GANG

Next best: Drumderry Harlem

2.50 Tote Always SP Or Better At Downpatrick Handicap Hurdle 2m 2f

Trishknowsbest was understandably outclassed when stepped into blacktype company last time but this assignment should be much more to her liking, considering her mark of 100. She has won over this course and distance before and has run well over further so the anticipated heavy rain may not expose her stamina limitations. Tipp For Mac is an interesting candidate on his first start in a handicap hurdle, with his opening mark of 102 likely reasonable.

SELECTION: TRISHKNOWSBEST

Next best: Tipp For Mac

3.25 Toals Bookmakers Mares Handicap Hurdle 2m 3f

Queenie Newall could well have more to come from her mark of 100 and would be tough to beat on better ground, but the prospect of up to 25mm of rain between Friday and Saturday isn’t expected to be in her favour. A chance is taken on the Gavin Cromwell-trained stablemate Soldaro, who won a weak race last time at Clonmel when proving she appreciates a cut in the ground. She could be open to further improvement, having had just six runs.

SELECTION: SOLDARO

Next best: Queenie Newall

4.00 Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase 3m 4f 120yds

We didn’t see the best of Punitive in the Kim Muir at the Cheltenham Festival, beaten far too early to suggest his career-high mark of 137 was the issue. His jumping wasn’t slick enough to play a part at the business end of that competitive contest won by Angels Dawn when pulled up. However, he is a proven stayer who excelled over three and a half miles when winning this season’s Porterstown Handicap Chase in December, and he ought to relish this stamina test on rain-softened ground. He could represent some each-way value.

Cases can be made for a few of these, including the in-form Wa Wa, who roared back to life when capitalising on much lower hurdles’ marks the last twice, and Malina Girl, a capable operator when bringing her ‘A’ game and one who represents Gavin Cromwell - trainer of last year’s first and third in this race. Stamina is the big question mark with her, but she’s probably competitively handicapped off her rating of 128.

SELECTION: PUNITIVE

Next best: Malina Girl

4.35 WKD Handicap Chase 2m 3f 55yds

Indie Belle has rattled the crossbar on a few occasions over hurdles since her last appearance over fences, when winning at Tramore in December, and she can be relied on to deliver another bold bid here as she reverts to the larger obstacles for Robert Widger. Stepping up to three miles last time was an experiment that backfired.

She should be a different proposition back at this shorter distance. Shes Some Doll isn’t the most frequent winner, as evidenced by her 3-43 record, but she arrives here on the back of a cracking second at Navan and should be on the premises again.

SELECTION: INDIE BELLE

Next best: Shes Some Doll

5.10 Boardsmill Sires Maiden Hunters Chase 2m 7f 100yds

A competitive contest to conclude proceedings, with five of the 10 runners having won on either their last or second last starts. Happy Victory bombed out when 2/1 favourite to win a similar event at Thurles last time but gets a tentative nod to bounce back, having won his previous two starts between the flags. Faith Loving was only gunned down late on in this race last year when trading as low as 1/100 in the in-running markets. He can reach the frame again this time around.

SELECTION: HAPPY VICTORY

Next best: Faith Loving