2.00 BoyleSports Download The App Maiden Hurdle 2m 150yds

Merlin Giant could be the one to side with. He won a Ballinrobe bumper last September having finished second on his debut at this meeting and he posted another good effort at this track to chase home Dads Lad in a 1m 4f flat maiden on Wednesday evening.

He also picked up useful hurdling experience in a conditions event at the Punchestown Festival several months ago.

It is interesting that Gamin Original is the choice of Paul Townend ahead of Hubrisko who was third in a reasonable maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse on New Year’s Day. Gamin Original’s last start came at this meeting a year ago when he fell at the last in a maiden hurdle having just moved into the lead. A 365-day absence from the track isn’t a concern coming from his yard.

Royal Romeo can improve on his hurdling debut at Cork last month while Scenic Look is respected as she looks to build on a 2m handicap victory here on Wednesday.

SELECTION: MERLIN GIANT

Next best: Gamin Original

2.30 BoyleSports Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m 6f 168yds

Willie Mullins has won this race five times in the last seven years and he fields a likely contender for today’s contest in La Prima Donna. On her last start, she justified odds of 2/13 in a maiden hurdle at Tipperary but she is better judged on her previous form in Grade A handicaps which yielded a decent fifth to Camprond at Punchestown and a second to Glan at Fairyhouse over Easter. This trip is an unknown for her but if her stamina holds up, she could take beating.

Fils D’Oudairies is interesting on his debut for Gordon Elliott. He chased home Langer Dan in a handicap hurdle at Aintree before finishing a head second to Crosshill in a conditions hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. He is good enough to make his presence felt.

Digby warrants considerable respect as does the multiple course winner Ilikedwayurthinkin.

SELECTION: LA PRIMA DONNA

Next best: Fils D’Oudairies

3.05 BoyleSports Casino Irish EBF Maiden 1m 73yds

Hiawatha can build on an encouraging debut at Killarney where he was beaten a head by Alder. There was much to like about his effort that day and the winner of that race had the benefit of a good first run in a smart Curragh maiden. The half-brother to Luxembourg should find this test to his liking and his trainer has a strong record in this race.

Serious Challenge is making his second appearance of the week and he started with a promising run on Monday evening when he was beaten less than 3l into third by Pivotal Trigger.

The benefit of that initial experience should make him a formidable rival for the selection.

SELECTION: HIAWATHA

Next best: Serious Challenge

3.40 Bathshack Maiden 1m 73yds

The 81-rated Adonis could be the answer. He finished a well held third behind Cougar in a Curragh maiden last month but the drop back from 1m 2f should work in his favour.

He also showed some useful maiden form last autumn to fill the runner-up spot in races won by Scriptwriter and Duke De Sessa. He ran quite well in a maiden at this track last year when beaten less than 2l into fifth by I Am Magic.

Olympicus caught the eye when fourth to Milestone Payment in a Killarney maiden earlier this month and is open to further progress. He should run well.

Touching Clouds is well drawn and made an encouraging debut to chase home La Dame Blanche in a maiden at Gowran Park two months ago.

SELECTION: ADONIS

Next best: Olympicus

4.15 Gra Chocolates Irish EBF Nursery Handicap 7f

Pandora Lovegood has shown a nice level of form already and might progress further to take this race. After showing up well to finish third to Kayhana in a useful Limerick maiden on quick ground last month, she then bolted up in a 7f maiden at Roscommon on slow ground a few weeks later.

If the ground were to ease at all before this race it would increase confidence in her chances but she looks good enough to play a leading role in any case.

Goa Gajah turned in a nice effort to defeat a subsequent winner in a Down Royal maiden last time and should be able to get closely involved.

Congo River’s debut second to Hellsing was a nice effort but he did not match that form at Listowel next time and has questions to answer.

SELECTION: PANDORA LOVEGOOD

Next best: Goa Gajah

4.45 Ardilaun Hotel Handicap (50-75) 7f

Excuzio Joe can record her second course and distance success having triumphed on testing ground here in October 2020. She finished down the field on her reappearance several months ago but posted a far more encouraging effort here on Tuesday when beaten less than 2l into fourth by the prolific Dunum.

She has a good draw to aid her cause and can deal with the hat-trick chasing My Minervina. The latter followed up a Bellewstown claimer success with a win in a Killarney handicap and a 6lbs rise for that most recent success looks quite manageable.

Inchiquin Star ran very well to finish third to Sir Antonio in a three-year-old handicap on Wednesday and holds every chance if matching that effort.

SELECTION: EXCUZIO JOE

Next best: My Minervina

5.20 McDonogh Capital Investments Handicap (50-80) 1m 3f 180yds

Indigo Desert gets the vote. This gelding was due to run here last night and it is perhaps quite noteworthy that his trainer has declared him again with champion jockey Colin Keane set to take the mount once again.

Indigo Desert also has a low draw to aid his cause. Regarding his form up to yesterday he ran twice last season for his previous yard and stepped up markedly on his debut at the Curragh to win a Dundalk maiden in December. He is a gelding with potential.

The reliable Alma Libre could be his biggest danger. She has been running with credit this term and lines up off a fine second to Common Practice in the Apprentice Derby where she was beaten just half a length.

Common Practice didn’t let the form down with a good second to Irish Lullaby on Monday evening.

SELECTION: INDIGO DESERT

Next best: Alma Libre

5.55 BoyleSports Irish EBF Mares Flat Race 2m

It is hard to look past the claims of Carrigmoorna Queen as she returns from a break of seven months. On her debut at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, she was beaten 12l into second by the smart Harmonya Maker.

Although well held by the winner, she did finish a long way clear of the remainder and she looks more than good enough to win a race such as this.

Our Girl Sal is an interesting rival with Derek O’Connor an interesting booking for the Peter Fahey inmate. On her only previous start this filly was beaten just over 1l into third in a point-to-point in late April. The benefit of that initial outing could make her quite interesting.

SELECTION: CARRIGMOORNA QUEEN

Next best: Our Girl Sal