11.50 Cavan Developments Home Builders Supporting St Marys GAA Maiden Hurdle 2m

Ashroe Diamond was a smart sort in mares’ bumpers last season, taking a Grade 2 at Aintree, but this is big step up for her now and she might be worth taking on at a likely short price.

Henry de Bromhead had just two bumper winners last season and Tag Man was one of them. Bumpers have never been de Bromhead’s forte so the fact this £135,000 showed a good level in all three of his starts there is perhaps a good sign. He previously finished second in a Boherna point-to-point and may well come to life now with obstacles back in front of him.

The same applies to Kansas City Star who win his point-to-point at Loughrea before finishing fourth on his sole start in bumpers at Fairyhouse last February. Gorgeous Suspect is one more to consider. He has been fragile, with just two starts in two years but he has shown a good level in both of those runs.

SELECTION: TAG MAN

Next best: Gorgeous Suspect

12.20 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f

This can often produce a Grade 1-standard novice hurdler but in truth it doesn’t look the strongest renewal. A tentative vote goes to Santonito, who finished fourth to Marine Nationale on his debut over hurdles.

That run wasn’t anything special, but the slow pace in the race possibly didn’t suit Gordon Elliott’s horse considering his best bumper form came over two miles and three furlongs at this track when second to Seabank Bistro. He returns to that trip now and can improve upon his opening effort.

Hiddenvalley Lake is another interesting de Bromhead runner. He was carried when holding a winning position at Ballindenisk and subsequently changed hands for £200,000. Another unlucky runner is Gaoth Chuil who was coming clear with Carrigmoorna Queen at Listowel when that rival jumped across her and probably caused her to fall.

SELECTION: SANTONITO

Next best: Hiddenvalley Lake

12.55 Pre-Order @IrishRacingYearbook.com Fishery Lane Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

This is a nice little contest and it’s tight at the top. Fil Dor was the best of these last season but he has to give weight away here and that might be a difficult task with regard to the Boodles winner Brazil. Padraig Roche’s colt first came to prominence when bolting up over this course and distance. He had his finest hour at Cheltenham when just too good for handicap good thing Gaelic Warrior and although well held in Grade 1 company at Aintree indicates he may be a level below Fil Dor, he receives 8lbs in weight and has race fitness on side.

Gordon Elliott’s horse is very likeable and consistent but he may well prove to be more of a stayer this season. Prairie Dancer also has fitness on side and had a very good summer campaign, having finished third in the Galway Hurdle and then impressively took the Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel.

SELECTION: BRAZIL

Next best: Prairie Dancer

1.30 Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) 2m 4f

Class could shine through in this big-field handicap hurdle with the top two in the weights holding strong claims. Cash Back is a 10-year-old, but he has lots of smart form and remains potentially nicely treated over hurdles, off a mark 12lbs lower than his chase assessment. He was last seen finishing second to the talented Irascible at Cork while before that he won well over hurdles at Clonmel.

Meet And Greet is at the other end of the spectrum and has got to concede weight all around but he has some impressive novice hurdle form, namely finishing third to The Nice Guy in a three-mile Grade 1 at Punchestown and earlier when just touched off by the very useful Flame Bearer at this course. In fact three of his four runs came at Naas and they were all fine efforts. He’s only a six-year-old with lots of scope to improve further over hurdles, especially off his current mark of 142.

Vina Ardanza should be on the premises as well. He has fallen on two of his last three starts but the move up to this trip should give him more time at his hurdles. He has smart novice hurdle form as well, having finished third in an Aintree Grade 1.

SELECTION: CASH BACK

Next best: Meet And Greet

2.05 Barberstown Castle Poplar Square Chase (Grade 3) 2m

Gentleman De Mee is a tremendous prospect for open two-mile chases this season and he can start with a win. Willie Mullins’s six-year-old was slow to find his feet over fences last season but he got the hang things eventually and looked really smart when much too good for Arkle winner Edwardstone at Aintree. He should get his way in front here and will be tough to beat despite conceding weight all around.

Coeur Sublime was unlucky not to claim a Grade 1 success when just touched off by Blue Lord at Punchestown. That was easily his best effort over fences but it still falls short of what the main selection achieved. Jeremys Flame is a useful mare with race fitness on side so she should make her presence felt for an in-form team.

SELECTION: GENTLEMAN DE MEE

Next best: Couer Sublime

2.40 Mongey Communications Beginners Chase 2m 4f

Three Stripe Life was the best of these over hurdles but Grand Jury strikes more as a chasing type and may be able to get off to a winning start. He did on his first run last season, beating a subsequent winner at Navan before chasing home Ginto in the Grade 1 Lawlers of Naas Novice Hurdle. The rest of his season didn’t go to plan but he wasn’t expended and may reach his full potential over fences now.

Three Stripe Life has very strong hurdles form, most notably chasing home Sir Gerhard twice at Leopardstown and Cheltenham before landing his own Grade 1 at Aintree. He is obviously a big threat.

SELECTION: GRAND JURY

Next best: Unexpected Depth

3.15 Sign Up Today To GavinLynchRacing.com Novice Handicap Chase 2m 4f

Fameaftertheglory is taken to get off the mark over fences here. He has some decent form over hurdles last season, placing in two decent maiden hurdles before finishing third in a valuable novice hurdle at Lingfield.

He has only had two starts over fences but improved markedly from his debut when third at Wexford just last month. He’s 6lbs lower over fences compared to his hurdles mark.

Sir Bob will be a big threat if ready to roll here. He won well over hurdles at Cork on his last run of last season and can compete off a 15lbs lower mark over fences now, a sphere in which he has some good form already. Happy Dreams was a wide-margin winner at Limerick and it will be interesting to see how he deals with an 11lb rise.

SELECTION: FAMEAFTERTHEGLORY

Next best:Sir Bob

3.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares (Pro/Am) Flat Race 2m

Halka Du Tabert can make a winning start for Gordon Elliott. The five-year-old won her point-to-point at Boherna by 30 lengths this time last year and was subsequently bought for 260,000 guineas by Kenny Alexander. She is an exciting prospect for a stable really starting to motor.

Coole Cherry is an obvious danger for Willie and Patrick Mullins. She was second on her debut at Tipperary last month and ought to improve from that effort now.

SELECTION: HALKA DU TABERT

Next best: Coole Cherry