12.15 Bar One Racing 3-Y-O Maiden Hurdle 2m 185y

A tricky opening contest with very little form to go on and so only a tentative vote goes to Harsh. Joseph O’Brien’s gelding has the benefit of a run, having finished third to Mighty Bandit, albeit beaten 17 lengths on his hurdling bow at Punchestown. He should come on for that experience and previously he had shown a reasonable level on the flat, where he holds a rating of 79.

Timeless Piece is another to consider. He struggled on his hurdles debut but showed good improvement to finish fourth to Semblance Of Order at Punchestown, and may well be able to take another step forward for Gordon Elliott now.

SELECTION: HARSH

Next best: Timeless Piece

12.45 Bar One Racing Maiden Hurdle 2m 185y

Western Diego was a real keen-goer in bumpers last season so he did well to win one and not be beaten too far in the Champion Bumper. If he can settle a bit now over hurdles, which may help in that regard, he is a really interesting novice hurdle prospect. Whatever the case, this doesn’t look a very strong maiden hurdle, with most of his main rivals well beaten on their first starts over hurdles.

With that in mind, stablemate Houlanbatordechais, who is also making his seasonal debut, could be next best. The six-year-old was sent off 13/2 for the maiden hurdle Dark Raven won at Leopardstown last Christmas and he ran okay in defeat there. Given plenty of time since, he could strip a different proposition now.

SELECTION: WESTERN DIEGO

Next best: Houlanbatordechais

1.15 Singletons Supervalu Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3) 3m

Solitary Man and What Path are closely matched on their one-two in a listed race over this course and distance last month, a race that seemed to be run steadily with the former coming home best. There may not be much between them again, but Search For Glory could have both their measures. He is a second season novice, having shown good form last term, notably finishing third to Good Land in a two-and-a-half-mile maiden hurdle at Leopardstown and in the same position behind Monty’s Star and Hiddenvalley Lake in a Grade 3 at Clonmel. He belatedly got off the mark in good style at Galway at the beginning of this season and he then ran third again to Croke Park in the Grade 3 Monksfield at Navan. This step back up to three miles should suit him well and he also receives 3lbs from both Solitary Man and What Path.

Mahon’s Way won his maiden hurdle in respectable fashion over two miles and three furlongs at Naas, but the runner-up has since been well held, and Henry de Bromhead’s horse will probably need this trip to bring about improvement.

SELECTION: SEARCH FOR GLORY

Next best: Solitary Man

1.45 O’Flynn Group Irish EBF Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2) 2m 160y

It was hard not to be impressed with Harmonya Maker on her chase debut and she can make it two from two. Gordon Elliott’s mare was allowed to stride on at Gowran Park and bar hitting the third last, she jumped well, with that mistake not enough to deter her from comfortably accounting for the talented Brandy Love by 11 lengths. She was most impressive on soft ground this time last year before her season was derailed by back to back non-finishes (fell and unseated) but she remains a smart mare, and her trainer thinks she is less “buzzy” this season. Fences could bring about the best in her.

Zenta is an obvious danger having finished third in the Triumph Hurdle and then claimer her own Grade 1 at Aintree. That said, her allowances will be more acutely felt racing against geldings - she only gets 6lbs off Harmonya Maker - and this is her seasonal debut. Hauteriere might even fare better. She won a beginners chase in May and showed smart form then to account for Eabha Grace.

SELECTION: HARMONYA MAKER

Next best: Hauturiere

2.15 Bar One Racing Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2) 2m 160y

Willie Mullins is bidding for a 15th win in this race and it’s pretty hard to look beyond that outcome, through last year’s triple Grade 1-winning novice El Fabiolo. The six-year-old chaser is known to make the odd mistake, which can be costly in the top two-mile chases, but he was able to get away with it last term, such was his class. The only very slight concern here may be that there is no obvious front runner. A theme of all his big wins last season was stablemate Dysart Dynamo blazing a trail from the front, bringing his stamina into play over the trip. Nonetheless, he should possess to much firepower here.

If there is to be an upset, Maskada is probably the one. She had fine season last term, scoring in the Tim Duggan before taking the Grand Annual back at this trip at Cheltenham, with runner-up Dinoblue franking that form after. She has race fitness on side, as does Fil Dor, who could yet develop into a smart chaser in open company. Gordon Elliott’s gelding is still only a five-year-old and started his season reasonably well behind Dinoblue at Naas.

SELECTION: EL FABIOLO

Next best: Maskada

2.45 Bar One Racing Handicap Hurdle 2m 185y

Plenty of these have legitimate claims but perhaps none more so than McGrath From Clune, who reverts to hurdles here off the back of a good win over fences at Thurles. He stayed on strongly over the extended two miles and two furlongs there to beat Lake Chad, showing the benefit of his previous seasonal debut, and he can run off a mark which is now 6lbs lower than his chase assessment. He also has run well at Mallow on both of his previous runs at the track.

Secret Rock is another one who makes appeal off a potentially lenient hurdles mark. He won his maiden hurdle at Wexford last March and his since won again on the flat. He only has four runs over hurdles in all so has lots of scope to progress. Look out for Ricky Bobby as well. He looked all over the winner at Thurles last time only to give way late on and he has more to offer now off just a 3lb higher mark.

SELECTION: MCGRATH FROM CLUNE

Next best: Secret Rock

3.15 Greenvalley Transport Novice Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f

Thelonglad caught the eye at this course last month and could be interesting now. Michael McDonagh’s gelding was a 50/1 shot but finished fourth, only beaten five lengths by Dgalwaygallivantor, with a decent gap back to the fifth. That was his first start in a handicap hurdle and his seasonal debut, so he has loads of scope to improve on that front, with the step up in trip to two and a half miles also a potential aid.

In a really open race, Blossom De Mai, Magic Conqueror and Duke Otto all come here in good form and look set to run well again.

Of the trio, Duke Otto looks most progressive, as although he failed in his hat-trick bid last time, he still ran well in third at Thurles, and may have more to offer still.

SELECTION: THELONGLAD

Next best: Duke Otto