2.10 Tom Quinlan Electrical Maiden Hurdle 2m 4f

It was encouraging to see a step in the right direction from Al Gasparo here last time when an 11-length second to the highly regarded Mirazur West. He showed a good attitude in his point-to-point win around this time last year, handles a cut in the ground and shouldn’t have any issue with the step back up to two and a half miles. He now makes his first start for Gavin Cromwell.

Paul Townend, bidding to retain his jockeys’ championship, is an interesting booking for Butcher Hollow, whose maiden hurdle form has been largely solid. He failed to improve as might have been hoped last time at Naas and now gets a first-time tongue-tie. He should be in the thick of things again. The Lovely Man’s experience should stand to him, while it will be interesting to see how the market interprets the chances of point-to-point winners McLaurey (Emmet Mullins) and Heroes Rise (Gordon Elliott) on their rules debuts.

SELECTION: AL GASPARO

Next best: Butcher Hollow

2.45 Race Displays Joseph O’Reilly Hunters Chase

3m 1f 55yds

It looked as though the occasion potentially got the better of Ferns Lock at Cheltenham when appearing to get stewed up in the preliminaries. He then probably did a bit too much before the business end, so it’s fair to say we didn’t see the best of him by any means in the Festival Hunters’ Chase. These look calmer waters for the talented seven-year-old, who should be able to account for this field if none the worse for his Cheltenham exertions, though that experience couldn’t be classed as an ideal prep for him cominghere by any means.

Annamix looked as though he would present by far the biggest threat to the selection, but he unfortunately was ruled out yesterday due to a temperature. That probably leaves Boss Robin best placed to pick up the pieces for minor money.

SELECTION: FERNS LOCK

Next best: Boss Robin

3.20 BoyleSports Mares

Handicap Chase (Listed Race) 2m 5f 120yds

Instit was on the scoresheet here 12 months ago but this time around she competes in handicap company and shouldering 11st 12lb on her way to victory here is a fair challenge, especially on demanding ground. She is still a big player as a classy mare, but it might be worth taking a chance on Jumping Jet, who races off just 10st 2lb when factoring in Danny Gilligan’s tremendous 5lb claim. She has been better than ever in recent starts and could have more to come.

The same stable’s Harmonya Maker can be a little in and out but has ability and gets a handy 7lb taken off her back by Carl Millar. Western Zara likes it around here and gets first-time cheekpieces on her return from 125 days off.

SELECTION: JUMPING JET

Next best: Instit

3.55 Fred Kenny Memorial

Ladies National Handicap Chase 2m 5f 120yds

Tony Martin captured this prize in 2023 and has a strong chance to repeat the dose with Read To Return. Perhaps he would ideally like a little further but testing ground should bring stamina into play even more, and Maxine O’Sullivan is a terrific booking in this ladies-only contest. His latest run over hurdles can be excused, having been found to be clinically abnormal post-race.

Neveradullmoment should have gathered enough handicap chase experience to win one of these, though he threw in a couple of mistakes last time at Down Royal when third to an in-form rival. He did run well on that occasion given he was nearly brought down, however. Klarc Kent has been a slower burn over fences than many of the stable’s brighter lights, and if he can raise his game on handicap chase debut shouldn’t be far away under Jody Townend.

SELECTION: READ TO RETURN

Next best: Neveradullmoment

4.30 I.N.H. Stallion Owners EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle Series Final (Listed Race) 3m

There is a lot to like about the chances of Kinturk Kalanisi in this €50,000 prize. The unexposed stayer is trained by Tom Gibney, who won this contest in 2018 with Agent Boru off 10st 6lb (Kinturk Kalanisi carries 10st 8lb) and has a big weekend to look forward to with Intense Raffles in the BoyleSports Irish Grand National. The 122-rated challenger won a Navan maiden hurdle in good style last time, and it was in that same race 12 months ago that Western Walk got off the mark over hurdles before landing this valuable series final. There could be more improvement to come from Kinturk Kalanisi.

It’s interesting to see Rachael Blackmore rides bottom-weight Native Speaker, having won on the same stable’s Raglan Road last time at Naas with what looked a smart performance that earned him an 8lb rise in the handicap. The mount of Darragh O’Keeffe certainly still warrants respect for Henry de Bromhead and J.P. McManus.

Built By Ballymore failed to live up to market expectations when 4/1 favourite for the Coral Cup and a career-best is required here. Shannon Royale is a battle-hardened customer for a novice handicap like this, though he needs to prove he’s still got some mileage in his mark of 140 to follow up a recent Thurles success.

SELECTION: KINTURK KALANISI

Next best: Raglan Road

5.05 RYBO Handicap Hurdle (Listed Race) 2m

J.P. McManus has won the last four runnings of this €100,000 event (including a one-two in 2021 and a one-three in 2019), so it’s conceivable that this race is one connections target around the spring festivals. A 12-runner field is slightly disappointing for such strong prize money and McManus’ trio of representatives all have chances. The pick of them may well be Comfort Zone, who has been off the track since a cracking second on the flat at the Irish Champions Festival. A smart juvenile hurdler last season, he beat subsequent Boodles winner Jazzy Matty in his maiden hurdle, claimed third behind Lossiemouth and Zarak The Brave in a Grade 3 here before winning both the Grade 2 Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow and Grade 2 JCB Triumph Trial at Cheltenham. A mark of 132 looks attractive for this assignment.

Last year’s winner of this race, Risk Belle, should be in the thick of things too if back to something like her best. Now rated 7lb higher than when promoted to first in the stewards’ room last year, she will be helped by Aidan Kelly’s 5lb claim and ran with credit when eighth in the County Hurdle last time. Of the remainder, Helvic Dream isn’t exposed in this discipline but will need to be on his ‘A’ game in terms of sharpness for a test like this. Westport Cove stumbled last time in the County and isn’t out of the equation on his peak form for the champion trainer and jockey.

SELECTION: COMFORT ZONE

Next best: Risk Belle

5.40 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Total Enjoyment Mares’ INH

Flat Race (Listed Race) 2m

It was a likeable, strong-staying performance that saw Magic McColgan open her account at Leopardstown on heavy ground earlier this month and she is taken to follow up in listed company here. A smartly-bred mare as a sister to Tornado Flyer, she has every chance of improving and is the choice of Patrick Mullins.

Barnahash Primrose ran with credit when third at the Dublin Racing Festival behind Fleur Au Fusil and is fully entitled to another crack at blacktype company for Jonathan Sweeney. Flashaway is another well-bred mare from the Willie Mullins camp who showed an ability to go through demanding conditions at Gowran last month.

SELECTION: MAGIC MCCOLGAN

Next best: Barnahash Primrose