12.50 Fairyhouse January Jumps Hurdle 2m

Britzka heads a strong challenge for Gordon Elliott. This gelding is already a course-and-distance winner having struck on his jumping debut here last month and he acquitted himself well when upped in grade for a Grade 2 event at Leopardstown over Christmas, when beaten just under 10 lengths by stablemate Fil Dor. On a line through the runner-up from that Leopardstown race, Lunar Power, he might just have the edge over his stablemate Iberique Du Seuil.

The latter won a maiden at Cork last time and previously finished second in a Punchestown maiden where he was beaten just under five lengths by Lunar Power. Feigh looks as though she has a bit to find with the Elliott pair while White Pepper readily defeated Iberique Du Seuil at Galway in October but could find him a tougher opponent this afternoon.

SELECTION: BRITZKA

Next best: Iberique Du Seuil

1.20 Fairyhouse Mares Maiden Hurdle 2m 2f 110yds

A chance is taken on Brooklyn Glory. She made a splendid start to her career last season when she ran out an impressive winner of bumpers at Listowel and Cork. On her next start she ran a fine fourth to Grangee and Party Central in a Grade 2 bumper at Leopardstown before she ended her season with a below-par run in a listed bumper at this track. Her initial efforts would suggest that she should make up into a smart novice hurdler and she is taken to see off Banntown Girl.

The latter was perhaps a shade unlucky not to win a maiden here two months ago and she posted an excellent effort in a listed event at Punchestown last month to finish third to Party Central. Jumping Jet was an especially impressive bumper winner at Gowran last March but has questions to answer after being turned over at 1/2 on her hurdling debut at Galway over two months ago.

SELECTION: BROOKLYN GLORY

Next best: Banntown Girl

1.50 Fairyhouse Easter Early Bird Handicap Hurdle 2m 7f 165yds

Ardhill can come out the right side of a clash of two progressive sorts. The seven-year-old struggled for much of last season but looked an entirely different proposition when bolting up in a handicap hurdle over a near identical trip to this at Ascot last month. The ease of that Ascot success is such that he finds himself 18lbs higher than when he last contested a handicap in Ireland but that may not be enough to prevent him dealing with the remarkable Glenquin Castle.

That one is chasing an incredible eighth handicap success in a row. He started off in the autumn by landing three handicap chases in a row and then brought up a hat-trick over hurdles before successfully reverting to fences at Punchestown a month ago. His biggest winning margin has been just a length and a half so he has won with a good deal more to spare than any of his wins would suggest and he is a formidable foe for Ardhill.

SELECTION: ARDHILL

Next best: Glenquin Castle

2.20 Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Handicap Chase (Grade A) 2m 1f

A chance is taken on Take All. He has shown some nice form against smart novices this season, including when finishing a 12-length second to Riviere D’Etel at Navan, and his recent handicap chase debut at Leopardstown was a respectable one. On that occasion Take All was beaten four lengths into third by Grange Walk but he is now 5lbs better off with that opponent and that might be enough to tip the scales in his favour.

He could have most to fear from Dunvegan who impressed when winning a Grade B handicap chase over this course and distance in late November. On that occasion he had six lengths to spare over Grange Walk who had to settle for third, and a 7lbs rise in the weights doesn’t look excessive. Blackbow was placed at Grade 1 level last season and could be interesting on his first start of the season.

SELECTION: TAKE ALL

Next best: Dunvegan

2.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1f

Saint Sam could be able to make a winning start over fences. Unlike his stablemate El Barra he lacks the advantage of previous experience over fences but he showed a good level of form as a juvenile hurdler last season. He didn’t actually win but runner-up efforts in races won by Zanahiyr, Quilixios and Jeff Kidder are testament to the level he performed to.

He is preferred to the aforementioned El Barra who came good to win two reasonable events late last season before returning to action with a heartening second to Blue Lord (a wide-margin winner since) at this track last month. Thedevilscoachman is also of interest after starting out his chasing career with a fine third to Ferny Hollow at Punchestown.

SELECTION: SAINT SAM

Next best: El Barra

3.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Rated Novice Chase 2m 5f 110yds

This looks a nice opportunity for Millen To One. He was a respectable third to Arahecan on his handicap chase debut at this track last month and again ran with credit at Leopardstown over Christmas when he finished an 11-length second to Siberian Star in an opportunity handicap chase over a similar trip to this one. It is worth taking the chance that Fran Flood’s charge can progress a little further as a chaser and that he can deal with Shopping Around.

That one does seem to reserve her best for Clonmel, where she won over two miles earlier this season, but there is no reason why she wouldn’t be as effective at this track. She was well held by Hilltop Supreme at Clonmel last time but shaped much better than her 12-length third would suggest.

SELECTION: MILLEN TO ONE

Next best: Shopping Around

3.50 Racing January 15 (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race 2m

Grivei is an obvious choice hailing from a yard that won all four bumpers at Leopardstown over Christmas. This son of Muthathir is a grandson of a Grade 1-winning hurdler who has already produced a Grade 2 winner by Muthathir.

Silver King looks an obvious danger as he has the benefit of previous experience to aid his cause and he made a bright start to his career when finishing third to Killer Mode in what looked a reasonably well contested bumper at Naas last month. Caldwell Diamond is another newcomer from a top yard and he is a half-brother to a flat winner from a quality French dual-purpose family.

SELECTION: GRIVEI

Next best: Silver King