1.05 Jim Nolan Transport Supporting Kill GAA Rated Novice Hurdle 1m 7f 123yds

THREE of the last four winners of this four-year-old contest have gone on to land the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if another Band Of Outlaws, Aramax or Brazil is discovered again here. Of the six runners, four have previously won in this sphere, including Delta Work’s half-brother Jazzy Matty for the Gordon Elliott team. Expect an improved display from his last start when facing the unenviable task of tackling leading Triumph Hurdle contender Blood Destiny.

Metamorpheus has been snapped up to join Paul Nolan since causing a 14/1 upset in a Punchestown maiden hurdle last month for Tim Doyle, Byker looked a promising sort for Charles Byrnes when scoring over this course and distance 13 days ago, while Sir Allen created a decent impression when winning at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve for Andy Slattery. Jazzy Matty could possibly have a slight class edge and gets the nod in a trappy affair.

SELECTION: JAZZY MATTY

Next best: Metamorpheus

1.40 Connolly’s RED MILLS

Irish EBF Auction Novice Hurdle

2m 3f

Provided he’s capable of coping with better ground than he encountered when winning an auction maiden hurdle that arguably lacked depth last time at Gowran, Hands Of Gold looks the one to beat for Arthur Moore, J.P. McManus and Ricky Doyle. But for a mistake at the second last, there’s every chance he would have won by further than the final margin of six lengths on that occasion.

Arthor, who shaped encouragingly when third to Belle The Lioness last month at Thurles, could follow the selection home for Jimmy Mangan and he is likely better than his official rating of 104.

Rocco Boy, wearing a hood for the first time, needs to bounce back from a couple of disappointing results at Wexford and Thurles but showed a useful level of ability when winning at Limerick last May.

SELECTION: HANDS OF GOLD

Next best: Arthor

2.15 Cavan Developments Supporting Kill GAA Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f

Spillane’s Tower could be the answer to an open-looking maiden hurdle, having run a cracker to finish second on his return from a break last time at Wexford. This five-year-old by Walk In The Park looked slightly raw when beaten just a head by subsequent For Auction Novice Hurdle runner-up Imagine on that occasion and could well step forward from that showing. The first two home pulled 11 lengths clear of then 123-rated filly Innatendue.

Teuchters Glory looked relatively smart in bumpers and is entitled to improve from his hurdling-debut fifth at Punchestown last month, and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Raglan Road was in the process of running a lovely race when falling at the second last flight on her introduction at Limerick over Christmas. However, should Spillane’s Tower handle better ground than the heavy surface he faced last time - and return sharp enough following a 103-day break - he makes most appeal.

SELECTION: SPILLANE’S TOWER

Next best: Teuchters Glory

2.50 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle 1m 7f 123yds

An 8lb rise and the fact Denis O’Regan is unable to maintain his partnership with Listenheretomejack means a repeat of his Thyestes Day heroics last time may not be straightforward, though he is clearly in good heart at present. By Your Side, who finished an eyecatching third to that rival last time, is fancied to reverse the form of their Gowran clash and notch a first win since joining Gordon Elliott.

Seven lengths separated the pair at the Kilkenny venue but this track should suit the selection better than last time and he’s entitled to be progressing with racing in this sphere given he’s only a four-year-old.

Luimneach, a maiden hurdle winner at Limerick - of all places - two starts ago, warrants respect in calmer waters than last time when not disgraced at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival.

SELECTION: BY YOUR SIDE

Next best: Luimneach

3.25 BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase (Listed Race) 2m

J.P. McManus and Willie Mullins hold the aces in the feature on Naas’ Cheltenham Trials Day as Elimay must fend off the challenge of up-and-coming chaser Dinoblue to pull off a hat-trick in the race. Connections have opted to give last year’s Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase heroine plenty of time to bounce back from a disappointing defeat on her comeback in the T.A. Morris Memorial Irish EBF Mares Chase at Clonmel in November, though it was expected she would need the run ahead of that seasonal reappearance.

With Mark Walsh on the sidelines, Paul Townend picks up the mount on Elimay while Luke Dempsey gets the chance to renew his partnership with Dinoblue after the pair teamed up to win a mares’ beginners’ chase at Cork in November. There was no shame whatsoever in Dinoblue coming up short against leading Cheltenham Festival fancy Impervious when last seen in Grade 2 company at Cork almost nine weeks ago.

Elimay needs to prove that she still retains all of her ability as a nine-year-old, having also been turned over at last year’s Punchestown Festival. Conceding 12lb to a progressive six-year-old like Dinoblue may prove too tough a task. Magic Daze should be competitive at the weights and has an experience edge over the selection.

SELECTION: DINOBLUE

Next best: Elimay

4.00 Naas Farm Machinery Hunters Chase 3m 1f

Billaway has been beaten on each of his six seasonal debuts so the fact he arrives here on the back of being safely held by the promising Ferns Lock at Thurles last month isn’t a big concern. This race has been a happy hunting ground for last year’s St. James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase winner, as he now seeks a fourth win on the bounce here.

There does not appear to be a huge amount of depth in opposition to the Willie Mullins-trained 11-year-old, and he can oblige again at the expense of Dinny Lacey, who was absent for 237 days prior to his return between the flags at Cragmore last month so can take a step forward.

SELECTION: BILLAWAY

Next best: Dinny Lacey

4.35 Christopher Dunne Memorial (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 1m 7f 123yds

A fair deal of guesswork here as 10 of the 12 runners have yet to run. Cappucino is one of those with experience, having finished third here last month for trainer Liz Doyle, who won this race with debutant Barnes Des Mottes in 2019. However, runner-up Ankud failed to frank the form when turned over as 4/5 favourite and beaten 20 lengths on Thyestes Day at Gowran. Ankud’s stablemate Smokey Putnum, who was tailed off in the same Gowran bumper, is the only other contender with experience.

Gordon Elliott, who was denied a third consecutive win in this race last year when supplying the runner-up, saddles interesting newcomer Samui, bred on the same cross as St Mark’s Basilica being by Siyouni and out of a Galileo mare. He was picked up for 32,000gns as part of a Godolphin dispersal at the horses-in-training sales last October and gets a tentative nod.

SELECTION: SAMUI

Next best: Cappucino