1.35 Norman Colfer Winning Fair Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m 110y

Three of the six runners declared are making their debut over hurdles in a race that can often look weak beforehand, given the sparsity of runners in this division and how close it is to Cheltenham, but had produced some notable winners, most recently Teahupoo and Burning Victory. The latter won this on her debut for Willie Mullins which is a good omen for Zenta, sourced from France after winning a listed mares hurdle at Auteuil. She is the choice of Paul Townend and may well be smart enough to score first time up.

Harley Street represents the same owner J.P. McManus and intriguingly hasn’t been gelded yet. He is a well-bred son of Galileo related to two blacktype fillies. Paradise Lost should give a shape to the race from a form perspective. He was fourth to Blood Destiny on his penultimate start and then finished a close second to Gordons Aura on his most recent outing - both those runs coming over this course and distance.

SELECTION: ZENTA

Next best: Harley Street

2.10 Red Mills EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle 2m 110y

It might be worth taking a chance on Walter Grey who should find this considerably easier than his previous run at Navan. On that occasion he was making his hurdles debut off a 329-day break, but he acquitted himself well taking on the likes of Shanbally Kid and Monty’s Star.

He was up with the pace for much of the way, before fading out of it in the straight, where a mistake at the second last wasn’t at all helpful. He still kept going to take fifth and albeit he was well held, it was useful effort and he should strip fitter now.

Purse Price has been placed in all three of her runs in this series and she should run well again, but Volantis has a bit more scope to progress after a good first effort over hurdles at this course last month. Ross O’Sullivan’s five-year-old looked to have every chance at the second last on that occasion only for his run to taper towards the line, and he ended up a close fourth to Maggie Walsh. The drop back to today’s trip might suit him.

SELECTION: WALTER GREY

Next best: Volantis

2.45 Tommy Carberry Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 32y

This is a bit of a minefield, with any amount of these open to copious improvement. American Mike is the most interesting. He qualifies for a Cheltenham Festival handicap hurdle by running here but notwithstanding that connections may have that target to the forefront of their minds, it’s hard to make a strong case that he is a better horse than a mark of 138 suggests at the moment.

In contrast, his stablemate Weseekhimhere could well be better than his mark of 130. He is if you take his last run literally because he ran a fine race when fifth to Saint Sam, finishing in and around a host of horses rated significantly higher than him. The form of those conditions races can often be untrustworthy but it was also his first run of the season, only his second over hurdles and racing on ground possibly softer than ideal, so he has the scope to improve in that regard.

Both L’yser and Spirt Of Legend are really interesting contenders. L’yser represents Barry Connell and returns to the course and distance of his maiden hurdle win. He was sent off a relatively short price at 7/2 for a competitive handicap hurdle at Leopardstown over Christmas and having showed up well for much of the journey, he just faded out of late on.

That was understandable given he was coming off a 255-day break. Spirit Of Legend finished second to Green Glory in another handicap hurdle at the same festival. He was brought down in the race won by Path D’oroux at Navan on his latest run but he still going well at the time and could be better than a mark of 129 now.

SELECTION: WESEEKHIMHERE

Next best: L’yser

3.20 Anna Gannon 90th Birthday Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 23y

The key piece of form here could be the two-mile handicap hurdle contested by Falvio and Jump The Shark at Naas two weeks ago. They finished second and fourth respectively, staying on from off the pace, so this step up in trip should suit now. Preference is for Jump The Shark who was making his handicap hurdle debut there and it was just his fourth ever run.

He came from further back than Falvio and should be able to put up an improved performance for an in-form Gavin Cromwell team.

Falvio will be dangerous again and others to consider are Happy Dreams and Chainofconsequence. Happy Dreams has been in good form lately and went close to winning again when third to Wa Wa at Navan earlier this month. Chainofconsequence bounced back to form with a good run over fences at Thurles and will be a threat if building upon that.

SELECTION: JUMP THE SHARK

Next best: Chainofconsequence

3.55 Tote Fantasy Bobbyjo Chase (Grade 3) 3m 1f 11oy

Willie Mullins has won seven of the previous nine renewals of this contest and looks set to score again as both his runners Kemboy and Carefully Selected reside at the head of the market. Slight preference is for Kemboy, who is the choice of Paul Townend, and should be fine on the drying ground, in contrast to his stablemate who has been described by his trainer this week as a big, old-fashioned chaser. Kemboy was a little disappointing when only sixth to Galopin Des Champs at his favourite course and distance in the Irish Gold Cup, but previously he had run close to his best when second to Conflated in the Savills. This represents a drop down in class for him and he may be able to make it count.

Carefully Selected has less miles on the clock and showed his wellbeing with a hard-fought career best in the Thyestes. The ground is a worry however and it is the same case for Pencilfulloflead who was third in the Thyestes. For that reason Longhouse Poet looks a better option. He was very disappointing on his previous run in the Galmoy Hurdle that might have been a blip as he’d won on his previous start at Limerick. Chasing is more his game and he can set himself up for another Grand National bid with a big run.

SELECTION: KEMBOY

Next best: Longhouse Poet

4.30 Quinlan Financial Rated Novice Chase 3m 1f 110y

This looks another good opportunity for the in-form Salmanino, who registered his first chase win in good style at Punchestown last month.

Liz Doyle’s gelding looks a real stayer so this slightly longer trip should suit him well and for all that his Punchestown win looked a soft race beforehand, the runner-up From The Ashes has won since and the third Old Soul, also trained by Doyle, finished second on his next start.

Gordon Elliott’s Ballykeel has to be a player as well. He ran well off a mark of 125 at Navan for his most recent start so a replication of that effort should have him involved. Brideswell Lad is another to consider after finishing fifth over a likely inadequate trip for his comeback run at Naas. He had previously won at Limerick and Wexford during the summer.

SELECTION: SALMANINO

Next best: Ballykeel

5.05 Ian Smith Memorial (Pro-Am) INH Flat Race 2m 110y

A tentative vote goes to Down Memory Lane who makes his track and stable debut.

The son of Walk In The Park was a comfortable winner of his point-to-point at Umma House when trained by Jonathan Fogarty and he has since been acquired by J.P. McManus.

Mister Pink makes his debut for Willie Mullins and is an obvious danger for the fact alone while Park Annonciade could put his track experience to good use for the Crawfords having finished a close fifth on his debut at Wetherby in February.

SELECTION: DOWN MEMORY LANE

Next best: Mister Pink