3:40 KFM HUNTERS CHASE FOR THE BISHOPSCOURT CUP

Last year’s winner Das Mooser is back again and will be tough to beat in what doesn’t look the strongest heat. However Peter Maher’s Alpha Male, once a promising sort for Nicky Henderson, could have his measure. The seven-year-old has experience of this course this season and has race fitness on his side.

Selection: ALPHA MALE

Alternative: Das Mooser

4:20 EMS COPIERS NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE A)

A competitive novice handicap chase but going with the theme of the week, it may well be fought out by two Willie Mullins-trained runners. Kemboy is the choice of Paul Townend and it’s easy to see why. He posted an excellent effort to finish fourth in the JLT Chase, a race that has been enhanced by the subsequent runs of Shattered Love, Terrefort, Finian’s Oscar and Bigmartre. He then fell early in the Irish Grand National but showed no ill effects when easily accounting for Tombstone on his previous run. Gordon Elliott’s runner reopposes off 8lbs better terms but Kemboy looked to have his measure by more than that at Limerick and can go in again today.

Koshari is the other Mullins runner that should go well. He comes into this off a comfortable win at Clonmel and his form to finish second to Invitation Only in a Grade 3 at this course in January reads very well. Like the main selection, he has scope to improve further now and can go well for the excellent Rachael Blackmore.

Selection: KEMBOY

Alternative: Koshari

4:55 HANLON CONCRETE IRISH EBF GLENCARRAIG LADY FRANCIS FLOOD MARES HANDICAP CHASE (GRADE B)

Slowmotion finished second in this race last season and although coming in off different preparation this time around, she can go one better. Joseph O’Brien has elected to keep her off the track for the winter so she comes into this race fresher than most and off just a 4lb higher mark than last season. Her ultimate aim will likely be another tilt at the Galway Plate, which she ran an excellent third in last season but she can take this on her way there.

Magic Of Light and West Bridge are closely matched on a couple of runs this season and likely won’t be far away from each other again but the second vote goes to Bonny Kate who was fancied for this race last season but could only manage sixth. However Noel Meade’s mare may well appreciate the likely softer ground this time around, with stamina her main forte.

Jessica Harrington’s eight-year-old has had a very good season and it is worth pointing out that though labelled a stayer by many, his only win this term came in the Irish Champion Hurdle over two miles at Leopardstown

5:30 BETDAQ 2% COMMISSION PUNCHESTOWN CHAMPION HURDLE (GRADE 1)

It’s great to see Samcro take on his elders. He has little left to achieve in his novice campaign and with regard to the future, connections will learn a lot more about him today. It’s not a vintage renewal and so the Elliott superstar is favourite to end a perfect season with a win but he does face Melon, the Champion Hurdle runner-up, who sets a standard you’d expect to reach to win a race like this.

With all that said, perhaps Supasundae has gone under the radar, available to back at 8/1 at the time of writing. Jessica Harrington’s eight-year-old has had a very good season and it is worth pointing out that though labelled a stayer by many, his only win this term came in the Irish Champion Hurdle over two miles at Leopardstown. At the time that race looked like a weak renewal, but the form of the race looks a lot better now when you consider what Melon, Mick Jazz and Identity Thief went on to do. Harrington has been telling everyone she wants decent ground for Supasundae and though the ground is still on the soft side here, it will likely be the quickest ground the son of Galileo has experienced all season. He could well put it up to the front two.

Selection: SUPASUNDAE

Alternative: Samcro

6:05 PROFILE SYSTEMS CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE (GRADE 1)

Of all the Grade 1 races taking place this week, this one is one of the most noteworthy in the context of the Mullins - Elliott rivalry. Of the 11 runners, 10 are trained by the two men, five of which are reappearing for the second time this week as the pair go on in their bulldozing pursuit of the trainers’ title. The horses reappearing were all disappointing so it may be worth concentrating on the fresher brigade. Given Samcro is not running in this, it is perhaps a fair show of confidence in Pallasator from the Elliott camp. Classy on the flat, the nine-year-old has always had his quirks but he looked like he was getting the hang of things at Fairyhouse recently and he could progress again.

Scarpeta finished third to Pallasator in that Fairyhouse Grade 2 but he get a lot closer to him now on better ground. The form of his Ballymore fourth could hardly be working out any better with both Next Destination and Black Op subsequently winning Grade 1 races. Expect better from him today.

Selection: PALLASATOR

Alternative: Scarpeta

6:40 STAR BEST FOR RACING COVERAGE CHAMPION HUNTERS CHASE

Balnaslow attempts to win this for the second year running while five-time winner On The Fringe is also back for more. The former-mentioned won the Foxhunter at Aintree last time under Derek O’Connor but will now be ridden by the in form Patrick Mullins. That is because O’Connor is riding Uxizandre, making his first start on the track for Padraig Roche. The 2015 Ryanair Chase winner won a point-to-point at Castletown-Geoghegan on his debut for Roche and he will be tough to beat if anywhere near his best returning to the track. Sizing Coal is another worth mentioning. He finished third in the 3m6f handicap chase at this festival in 2016 and he has been going well in hunter chases on the track this season.

Selection: UXIZANDRE

Alternative: Sizing Coal

7:10 SALESENSE INTERNATIONAL NOVICE HURDLE

Shady Operator hasn’t been seen on the track in 153 days but he may be able to defy that absence by winning this trappy contest. Joseph O’Brien’s horse was last seen chasing home Sharjah, who went on to much bigger things, at Gowran Park where he had the reopposing Roaring Bull seven lengths behind him. That sort of form puts him bang in the mix for this sort of contest and Barry Geraghty has elected to ride him from a choice of five.

It’s easy to pick holes in the form of likely favourites Deal D’Estruval and Roaring Bull, given both disappointed on their latest run. Another horse making an appearance after a prolonged gap is Gordon Elliott’s Vengeful, whom Jack Kennedy will ride. A French import, he beat the useful Dis Donc on his debut for the stable at Navan.

Selection: SHADY OPERATOR

Alternative: Vengeful

7:45 GVA DONAL O’BUACHALLA PROPERTY ADVISORS INH FLAT RACE

An intriguing bumper can go to Jessica Harrington’s Press Conference. The five-year-old brings some smart form into this contest via a close second to Champion Bumper runner-up Carefully Selected at Naas. A replication of that effort should see him go close.

Lone Wolf reverts back to bumpers after a useful effort to finish third on his debut over hurdles in a listed event at Naas. However he may be more suited to jumping and so the second vote goes to Noel Meade’s First Approach who is another with smart bumper form in the book. He finished third to Rapid Escape at Down Royal earlier in the season and he should be fine on the drying ground.

Selection: PRESS CONFERENCE

Alternative: First Approach

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