11.50 Kilberry Pub & Kitchen Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

Gordon Elliott has won five of the last seven runnings of this race (beaten a head in second in another, and beaten with subsequent Grade 1 regular Firefox in the other). That means it’s difficult to get away from his stable number-one, Classical Creek, who followed up a debut point-to-point victory with a Down Royal bumper success last season.

He hasn’t been seen since finishing third to stablemate Kalypso’chance (beaten 5/2 favourite for the Champion Bumper on his next start) and Champion Bumper runner-up Heads Up in the Listed Future Champions Bumper here last December.

Coyote Spirit, from the same stable, was a little disappointing when last seen in May but had looked promising up to then. Fillyoureye, Willie Mullins’ sole representative, was fourth in a good bumper on debut at Fairyhouse in January before scoring at Kilbeggan on his only other outing in April. He’s an obvious threat if improving for the switch to obstacles.

SELECTION: CLASSICAL CREEK

Next best: Fillyoureye

12.25 Lisadell Equine Hospital 110 Series Final Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

He needs to bounce back from a disappointing Down Royal showing last time, but Midleton Rare appeals at the bottom of the weights if back to the sort of form that saw him win well on his stable introduction at Limerick two starts ago. Timeform described the ground as heavy then, and good to soft last time, so he’s back to something more like his winning conditions now, and the trip is back to more like what he probably wants too, having been tried over much further most recently. The form of that Limerick win reads particularly well now when seeing the exploits of runner-up Tir Og, as well as the third-placed Welluknow, who won at Gowran last weekend.

At the other end of the handicap, Paul’s Dream must concede weight to all rivals but she wasn’t going too badly when coming down at the second last in a Cheltenham Grade 2 novice hurdle three weeks ago. Plenty hold chances, including Clonbury Bridge, who is rated 115 over fences and now tries to take advantage of a 12lb lower hurdles mark (second to an in-form Mephisto off 1lb lower in a Tramore handicap hurdle in August).

SELECTION: MIDLETON RARE

Next best: Clonbury Bridge

1.00 Hotel Park St. Johann In Tirol Austria H’ndicap Hurdle 2m

Deep ground shouldn’t inconvenience Balko d’Ange, on the basis of his Limerick Christmas Festival win last season, and he’s bound to be nicely sharp coming here on the back of two handicap runs at Tipperary and Down Royal recently. He’s shown that he can be competitive off this type of rating in the past and is still only a five-year-old, hailing from a stable among the winners last week at Clonmel.

Black Bamboo lacks a recent run but he has a decent record when fresh. It’s also possible he’ll be seen to good effect at the minimum trip on testing ground. Scalpnagoon’s season tailed off a little last term but his best form gives him a squeak, while Henry de Bromhead’s duo, Lambay Island and Killaney King, command respect in a wide-open race.

SELECTION: BALKO D’ANGE

Next best: Black Bamboo

1.35 Bar One Racing For Auction Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m

I’ll Sort That had Ma Jacks Hill’s measure when they met at Galway 20 days ago over half a mile further, and, while the runner-up is 4lb better off now, Declan Queally’s battle-hardened five-year-old gets the nod to extend his winning run.

He’s got the potential to make this a real test for his rivals on demanding ground, and clearly has an engine. Ma Jacks Hill’s stablemate Theflyingking could be a little underestimated in the early markets at around 11/1, though it’s clearly not a vote of confidence in his claims that Jack Kennedy prefers the Galway second.

Theflyingking was set to collect at Down Royal when failing to get the landing gear out at the last recently, and he’d have been a much shorter price here if standing up then. Ace Brannigan impressed at Tipperary on his return from a break for Henry de Bromhead and is likely open to any amount of improvement. I’ll Sort That, Ma Jacks Hill and Theflyingking are all also declared for the Monksfield Novice Hurdle back here on Sunday.

SELECTION: I’LL SORT THAT

Next best: Theflyingking

2.10 Railway Bar Lismullen Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 4f

It’s not ideal that he took a heavy fall after some less-than-fluent jumping at the Punchestown Festival when last seen, but Grade 1 winner The Yellow Clay has a progressive profile and sets the standard on ratings. He won both of his starts in graded company at Navan last season and is the joint-youngest runner in the field, so he could have more upside than most.

Jetara is fit from the flat and was running with credit in top senior company over hurdles last season, so will be there to find out any chinks in the selection’s armour. It could be a good time to catch her and this is only the second time this season that Paul Townend has ridden for a stable other than Willie Mullins’. Maxxum has the ability to shake these up but has tended to need his first runs of the season in recent years.

SELECTION: THE YELLOW CLAY

Next best: Jetara

2.45 Bar One Racing Fortria Chase (Grade 2) 2m

Marine Nationale was clearly the standout in this division in Ireland last season, but has been withdrawn.

Solness was a shade unlucky when second in this race 12 months ago behind Found A Fifty and was in Grade 1-winning form at Leopardstown both in December and February afterwards (beating Marine Nationale on both occasions). Despite a 200-day absence, and he gets a tentative nod in a trappy race. Dinoblue was another to get better as the season went on but she’s entitled to have a good crack at this company on her best form. Captain Guinness has been hit and miss in this race and it will be worth keeping an eye on how the market interprets his claims, as he soon turns 11. The advantage of a recent run for last year’s winner Found A Fifty should stand him in good stead.

SELECTION: SOLNESS

3.20 Pat Sheils Memorial Irish EBF Beginners Chase 2m 1f

If he takes to fences at the first time of asking, Kopek Des Bordes will clearly take all the beating as a top-class novice hurdler from last season. The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle winner wasn’t the first youngster to run below par at the end of the season at Punchestown after a big early spring and he’s better judged on his flawless record prior to that.

Lovely Hurling bumped into runaway winner Final Demand when last seen at the Punchestown Festival, and he has the physical makings of a useful chaser. Watch the market for an indication of his readiness on his comeback. Jump Allen, a stablemate of the selection, came good at Sandown on the final day of the British season. With Kopek Des Bordes widely expected to collect by most, he should deliver a bold bid for the minor money.

SELECTION: KOPEK DES BORDES

Next best: Jump Allen

3.55 Bar One Racing ‘Extra Place Races Daily’ (Pro/Am) INH Flat Race 2m

Jet To Monte Carlo bolted up on his only start between the flags and now makes his rules debut for Emmet Mullins (vendored at £200,000 with previous connections after entering the sales ring in the spring). This bumper ought to be informative and there are some smart sorts in the line-up, but the Jet Away four-year-old is out of a half-sister to Samcro and could be anything. It will be worth watching how sweet the market is on his chances. Lemmy Caution cost £250,000 after winning on his point-to-point bow for Colin Bowe and is in top hands with Gordon Elliott now. Those with capable rules form include Leonard Vallis (second in a Gowran maiden hurdle), Le Roi Du Livet (beaten a nose in a Tramore bumper last time) and Fairyhouse debut second Mossy Way, while Springs Steen (Henry de Bromhead) and Ziso (Gordon Elliott) are newcomers with a chance on paper.

SELECTION: JET TO MONTE CARLO

Next best: Lemmy Caution