12.35 Total Event Rental

Beginners Chase 2m 6f 148yds

The form of Kates Hill’s last run when second at Naas a month ago was boosted this week when the winner Money Heist followed up in good style at Clonmel, so close attention ought to be paid to her back in beginners’ chase company. The Jeremy mare has only made nine appearances under rules and is now a nine-year-old, so she may not be entirely bombproof, but this looks a good chance for the three-time point-to-point winner to get off the mark under rules.

Rolly Bowley Boy is officially rated 111 over fences and that gives him a decent chance in a race restricted to horses rated 109 or less over hurdles. He’s been very consistent while finding a couple too good lately, though he may want more testing ground to be seen at his best. Pictures Of Home collected over hurdles last time and should be within his comfort zone in terms of the grade of this race. He’ll need to improve from his previous two chasing runs in May 2021 and December 2022 but Ted Walsh has been having a fine season with his string.

SELECTION: KATES HILL

Next best: Rolly Bowley Boy

1.05 Betting Better With SkyBet Novice Chase (Grade 3)

2m 3f 146yds

There was lots to like about the successful chasing debut of Blood Destiny at Naas last month and he is fancied to double his tally over fences here, in turn bolstering his Cheltenham Festival credentials. This five-year-old gets a little pull at the weights from his elders and looked especially efficient over his fences last time. He won over two and a half miles on that occasion so his stamina is fine for this trip, but his jumping looks so quick that he could probably drop back to two miles either.

Imagine has twice the experience of the selection over fences, having followed up his Fairyhouse beginners’ chase win with a battling victory in the Craddockstown Novice Chase last time. That looked a pretty weak Grade 2 but he is talented and can take advantage if the favourite fails to fire. Stepping up in trip is likely to bring out the best in Gordon Elliott’s contender. Spillane’s Tower needs to prove himself at this level but won well last time and is clearly a useful operator for Jimmy Mangan. Silent Approach will find this tougher than the mares-only company she ran in last time.

SELECTION: BLOOD DESTINY

Next best: Imagine

1.35 SkyBet Moscow Flyer

Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)

2m 157yds

Given the strength of the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle yesterday, it’s probably a wise move from connections of Mystical Power to instead come here rather than the rescheduled Grade 1 event at Naas. This isn’t a penalty kick by any means, but there probably isn’t the same star quality on show either. Annie Power’s first foal is unbeaten in a bumper and a novice hurdle, and impressed at Galway when last seen in July. There’s an obvious chance he mightn’t be cherry-ripe for this after a 167-day layoff, but he gets the nod to build on the bright start he’s made to his career.

Jigoro stepped up considerably from his Cork maiden hurdle second to win a similar event at Navan last time. More progress will be required now but at least he is coming here with a race-fit profile and is on the up. Fascile Mode hasn’t been able to fully make his presence felt in Grade 1 company so will appreciate his sights being lowered now. James’s Gate ran well off a layoff at Leopardstown but must improve again, while Thurles winner Lombron also has to raise his game but falls into the ‘could be anything’ category for Willie Mullins.

SELECTION: MYSTICAL POWER

Next best: Jigoro

2.05 SkyBet Acca Freeze

Maiden Hurdle 2m 157yds

The fact that Paul Townend prefers the race-fit Lisnagar Fortune over stablemate Mercurey (returning from a 399-day layoff) means it’s difficult to look beyond the champion jockey’s mount. A half-brother to Stayers’ Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar, the debut bumper winner has been turned over on his first three starts over hurdles (including twice at odds-on) but was only just denied by Readin Tommy Wrong last time - and that form has a completely different look now following the Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle.

Mercurey is still respected but is entitled to sharpen up for the run. Jasko Des Dames’ form in both France and Ireland ties in with Jigoro, so it will be worth watching how that runner fares in the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle earlier on the card.

SELECTION: LISNAGAR FORTUNE

Next best: Mercurey

2.35 SkyBet Request A Bet Mares Handicap Hurdle

2m 4f 67yds

A wide-open affair in which a very tentative nod goes to Bestaline, as she switches to her own sex and goes up in trip, which should be to her liking. She showed some early promise over hurdles last season, and when third on her reappearance at Limerick, but has been disappointing in the main. Still, the handicapper is giving her a chance off 111 in this type of race.

Mollys Glory got off the mark at the 12th attempt over hurdles last time and is entitled to be on the premises again, though she couldn’t be described as bulletproof in terms of her career strike rate (a nine-year-old who has won two of her 21 starts). Mitiva and Ah Fuhgeddaboudit aren’t without chances after running well in defeat on their latest starts.

SELECTION: BESTALINE

Next best: Mollys Glory

3.05 Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Chase 2m 3f 146yds

It was probably all happening a little quicker than ideal for Mahlers Cove when well beaten into sixth as favourite for a Limerick handicap chase over an extended two miles and a furlong last month, so stepping up in trip should be to his benefit here. A horse whose sole win came at Thurles, perhaps the ground was also more testing than ideal on that occasion and shouldn’t be as heavy here.

Captain Jimmy wasn’t without a chance when coming down three from home over hurdles last time at Limerick and could be worth a second look, especially if the market spoke in his favour. Glenmalure Lodge posted a decent third at Down Royal on December 26th and is entitled to be thereabouts again in what looks a winnable contest.

SELECTION: MAHLERS COVE

Next best: Captain Jimmy

3.35 SkyBet Build A Bet

Amateur National (Q.R.)

Handicap Chase 2m 6f 148yds

A field of just six but all have questions to answer to a certain extent. Punitive is a useful handicapper on his day but has been out of form lately, and Hardwired has ability but isn’t the easiest to predict. It was too early to know how he’d have fared last time when brought down three fences from home at Naas. Bonnie Kellie wasn’t disgraced when fifth in the Tim Duggan at Limerick over Christmas, though it’s difficult to have confidence that she has much up her sleeve from the handicapper at present.

The Flier Begley, who ran well when second in a three-runner chase at Ayr before Christmas, has won just one of his 16 starts. He can be a player when all falls right but Young Dev might just be the way to play the race, with every chance he’ll improve from his comeback run at Limerick over hurdles following a 347-day break. A Midlands National runner-up at Uttoxeter who has won here before, he’s bound to stay well under John Gleeson. It wouldn’t be a shock if Routine Excellence posted an improved effort in first-time cheekpieces after a no-show at Cork last time. He needs to bounce back but isn’t ruled out for Gavin Cromwell.

SELECTION: YOUNG DEV

Next best: Routine Excellence