12.30 Lily & Wild Beginners Chase 2m 3f 150y

This is a fascinating match-up between Kilcruit and Journey With Me, both disappointing for different reasons last season but starting afresh now over fences.

Journey With Me didn’t do a lot wrong over hurdles but he gained precious little experience for various reasons going in to Cheltenham. With that in mind, even though he came down at the last, his run in the Ballymore behind Sir Gerhard was a fair effort.

Henry de Bromhead thinks this intermediate trip will suit him best now and it will be intriguing to see how he gets on. He gets a tentative vote over his main market rival who has been subject of positive reports and who may well revel now as a chaser.

SELECTION: JOURNEY WITH ME

Next best: Kilcruit

1.03 Oak Lodge Landscapes Novice Chase 2m 180y

Hallowed Star is potentially vulnerable away from Galway and over this slightly shorter trip but his form looks a cut above his rivals. A runaway winner of the two-mile-seven-furlong feature handicap hurdle at the Summer Festival at Galway during the summer (though there were plenty of early fallers in behind him), he has looked good since reverting to fences, with both of his runs at Ballybrit.

He was second to Sit Down Lucy, another Galway specialist, on chase debut and then much too good on his second start, staying on strongly up the hill.

Midnight Run is a maiden over fences for three seasons now and actually finished in behind Asterion Forlonge in the opening race on this card two seasons ago. That said, he has decent form in graded chases on his last two starts, chasing home Drinmore hope Enniskerry on both occasions.

SELECTION: HALLOWED STAR

Next best: Midnight Run

1.38 O’Connor Heating Supp Longford Maiden Hurdle 2m 3f 100y

Absolute Notions was a most impressive winner of the Land Rover Bumper here in April and can get off to a winning start for his new owners Robcour. A 25/1 shot on the day, the son of Milan came through strongly to win what is always an informative contest and he was subsequently bought in the Punchestown parade ring for €370,000 three days later.

Benaud, rated 101 on the flat, is an interesting recruit to hurdles and could easily go well but second preference is given to Deep Cave for the in-form Henry de Bromhead team. The son of Court Cave was a good winner of his point-to-point at Belclare and then sold for £235,000.

SELECTION: ABSOLUTE NOTIONS

Next best: Deep Cave

2.13 Frontline Security Mares Maiden Hurdle (Listed) 2m 2f 40y

This should come down to Heaven Help Us and Queens Brook, the stand-out pair on ratings in this listed contest. They’ve met already this season and the former came out on top, though they finished second and third to surprise winner Rebel Ivy in a listed contest at Limerick.

There were four and a half lengths between them on that occasion but Queens Brook is reportedly a difficult mare to get fit and perhaps she will find the benefit of that run more of an advantage than Paul Hennessy’s mare. Her overall form is better also, considering she came close to winning the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham last term.

SELECTION: QUEENS BROOK

Next best: Heaven Help Us

2.48 Sebden Steel Rated Novice Hurdle 2m 20y

Despite a few jumping blemishes, Halibut looked a very smart type on his hurdles debut at Clonmel and can give weight all around. The Emmet Mullins-trained five-year-old has twice run well when third to Path D’Oroux and then Marine Nationale in bumpers last term. He looks a different proposition over hurdles as he won with ease on his debut last month and the only horse who could go with him Ciillian’s Charm ran well when third to Ashroe Diamond last weekend.

The Model Kingdom looks better placed to make a race of it. She is a course winner and has shown reasonable form over hurdles, finishing third to Magical Zoe in a listed contest at Down Royal at the beginning of the month.

SELECTION: HALIBUT

Next best: The Model Kingdon

3.23 Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle 3m 120y

A highly competitive contest could go to Tyre Kicker. Gavin Cromwell’s gelding won over this course and distance in May, on what was his handicap debut. His seasonal debut effort was a good one, fourth to Jungle Prose at Down Royal.

He should strip fitter now and gets a 12lb weight swing with that rival, who opposes again and bids to land a hat-trick.

Brawler is another one to note. He makes his debut here for Patrick Foley. He struggled to make an impact in two starts last season but he has lots of decent form prior to that, over fences and hurdles. His mark is 7lbs lower in the later sphere and if he’s ready to do himself justice on his first start in 351 days, he can go well.

SELECTION: TYRE KICKER

Next best: Brawler

3.55 Irish Mirror INH Flat Race 2m 20y

A tentative vote goes to Answering who ran a huge race coming off a 511-day break at Thurles last month. Tim Doyle’s seven-year-old was a 66/1 shot but defied those odds to finish close up to the winner A Law Of Her Own. He should strip fitter now and this doesn’t look like the strongest bumper.

If there is a good horse in here, it’s likely to be Caldwell Potter, who ran eighth in the Land Rover Bumper here in April. Another worth noting is Teuchters Glory, who hasn’t been seen in 773 days but won his sole start in a Galway bumper and will also be ridden by his 64-year-old trainer Liam Burke.

SELECTION: ANSWERING

Next best: Caldwell Potter