1.40 Alkumait Standing At Capital Stallions Irish EBF Maiden 5f

The market will likely be informative for the first two-year-old maiden of the season, with the entire field unraced. Jim Bolger is often the man to follow in this race and his Raven’s Pass debutante Spanish Cara gets a tentative nod, albeit she is bred to want further than the minimum trip. That could stand to her in what is expected to be testing ground. Nicely-bred Mehmas colt Prince XJ is another to respect for Michael O’Callaghan.

SELECTION: SPANISH CARA

Next best: Prince XJ

2.15 DMG Media Handicap 5f

Laugh A Minute returns off 7lb lower than when winning this race last year on the back of a similar preparation. He could take some stopping if bringing his ‘A’ game. The trip and ground conditions shouldn’t inconvenience him.

Swift Flight, who finished second behind the selection here 12 months ago, is also on pretty decent terms with the handicapper and should be in the mix again, for all that he’s 1lb wrong at the weights. Downforce, the oldest member of the party at 11, has got his optimum conditions and could run well at a big price.

SELECTION: LAUGH A MINUTE

Next best: Swift Flight

2.50 Cavalor Equine Nutrition Fillies Maiden 7f

Honey Girl sets a strong standard on her debut for Joseph O’Brien (previously trained by Henry de Bromhead) but it’s difficult to have complete faith in her. She’s 0-8 and has finished second three times, including when spurning what looked a golden opportunity at Dundalk as 1/5 favourite last July. Still, her mark of 102 makes her hard to beat.

Aidan O’Brien won this race in 2021 with French Oaks heroine Joan Of Arc and was second here 12 months ago with Irish Oaks runner-up Toy. His duo, Water Nymph and Unless, can capitalise if the top-rated performer fails to fire.

SELECTION: HONEY GIRL

Next best: Unless

3.25 Paddy Power Irish Lincolnshire 1m

Ado McGuinness could saddle as many as 10 runners in the Curragh’s €100,000 feature, and his €10,000 winter buy Celtic Crown may prove his best chance of plundering the prize. A big-handicap winner at this course last season from just 5lb lower than her current mark, she will be helped by Cian MacRedmond’s 5lb claim and has a lovely weight of 8st 7lb when factoring in that allowance. Her recent comeback third at Dundalk was perfectly satisfactory and she should improve.

Wide draws are not ideal for British challengers Totally Charming (drawn 22) and Lattam (drawn 24) but the strong record of overseas raiders in Irish premier handicaps means they command automatic respect. Dha Leath should be on the premises for Gavin Cromwell too.

SELECTION: CELTIC CROWN

Next best: Lattam

3.57 Lodge Park Stud Irish EBF Park Express Stakes (Group 3) 1m

Insinuendo deserves a change of luck at the Curragh after finishing second on her last three starts here; beaten three quarters of a length by Mother Earth in this race last year, going down by a neck to Luxembourg in the Royal Whip and the same margin to Above The Curve on Irish Champions Weekend in the Blandford. She brings rock-solid form to the table, though she does tend to improve for her first run of the season.

However, despite having 6lb to find on ratings, Star Girls Aalmal could be worth taking a chance on, with the trip more likely to suit her than Insinuendo, who prefers a mile and a quarter. The Henry de Bromhead-trained four-year-old won on her reappearance last season, has performed well at this track, handles an ease in the ground and could have more improvement to come.

SELECTION: STAR GIRLS AALMAL

Next best: Insinuendo

4.32 Goffs London Sale (C & G) Maiden 7f

Broadhurst hasn’t been seen since finishing a fine second on debut at Navan last May, splitting the useful Harry Time and Beauty Crescent over five and a half furlongs. There is enough stamina on the dam’s side of this No Nay Never colt’s pedigree to suggest he’ll have little trouble staying this trip and he could be the one to beat if sharp enough on his return for Aidan O’Brien. Prove It, representing Michael O’Callaghan, is bred to be useful as a three-parts sibling to Royal Ascot-winning sprint handicapper Significantly, and cost €78,000 at the breeze-up sales last May.

SELECTION: BROADHURST

Next best: Prove It

5.07 Westgrove Hotel Handicap 1m

The Gillian Scott-trained Starting Monday won this race two years ago on his first start after a break and could repeat the dose off just 1lb higher now, with the testing ground set to be in his favour. He ran well off higher marks than this last season and there’s every chance this has been a real target for connections. Khafaaq is another who has been tumbling down the weights and will appreciate conditions, while Cliffs Of Freedom needs consideration on his second start since joining Charles Byrnes.

SELECTION: STARTING MONDAY

Next best: Khafaaq

5.37 Live Music After Racing At McDonnells Bar Newbridge Handicap 6f

A mark of 61 could well underestimate Queen’s Pardon if the nine-race maiden is back on top form. An ease in the ground should play to her strengths and she arguably ran the best race of her life at this track when beaten half a length in third in a seven-furlong fillies’ handicap last May off 8lb higher than her current mark. It’s difficult to say Conversant is thrown in off a mark of 61 on his first run of the season but he’s proven in these conditions and has won over this course and distance before.

SELECTION: QUEEN’S PARDON

Next best: Conversant