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12.05 - Paddy Power 'only 4 More Days Until 2021' 3-y-o Maiden Hurdle (2m)
Coltor, Trebizond and Iberia are newcomers to note in the betting, the former with Jack Kennedy booked to ride on first start for Dermot Weld. The son of Free Eagle has potential on paper, as does Henry De Bromhead's Golden Horn newcomer.
Galway flat winner Dark Voyager was runner-up on hurdles bow at Ballinrobe in October for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. He has since been turned over again at a short price when failing to give his best at Punchestown but, given his connections, it won't be a shock if he gets it right soon.
FLYING SCOTSMAN was a dual winner on the level back in the summer after joining Joseph O'Brien and he improved on his Punchestown hurdling bow to finish third at Cork earlier this month, he likely goes well here for a yard that landed this race two years ago.
12.35 - Paddy Power Games 'don't Think You're Special' Beginners Chase (2m1f)
Klassical Dream hasn't been spotted since a disappointing run when odds-on in a Grade 1 over hurdles at this meeting a year ago. The former Cheltenham Festival winner now goes chasing for the first time. He's clearly got plenty of scope to take to this game and is a strong contender for the champion trainer/jockey combo. He'll be priced accordingly.
January Jets has twice run well over fences having picked up a Galway maiden hurdle on first start for Henry De Bromhead after departing Jessica Harrington's yard. He can be in the mix while Defi Bleu is a place contender for Gordon Elliott though might just lack a gear-change when required.
JEREMY'S FLAME was a good third in a Grade 3 Mares Novice Chase at Cork three weeks ago, putting behind the mishaps of her first two outings over fences. She tends to go well this time of year and was Grade 1-placed as a novice hurdler last term. Gavin Cromwell's runner can make the most of the weight she gets from the boys to launch a challenge now.
1.10 - Paddy's Rewards Club Chase (Grade 1, 2m1f)
He was turned over by A Plus Tard in this last year but CHACUN POUR SOI may go one place better now for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. The winner had the benefit of a run last year when getting his measure but the Rich Ricci inmate has already bagged the Hilly Way Chase at Cork en route back here this season. He has a Grade 1 course and distance win on his CV already and, with plenty of improvement forecast from his comeback run, is entitled to take this prize.
It's no penalty kick however with Notebook and Put The Kettle On serious rivals. The former represents last year's winning trainer/jockey team of Henry De Bromhead and Rachel Blackmore and won a pair of Grade 1s as a novice over C&D last season himself. He easily swept aside Fakir D'oudairies in a Navan Grade 2 on his comeback and, as long as he takes in the preliminaries without incident, is a big player.
His stablemate and Arkle winner Put The Kettle On returned to action with a gallant Cheltenham success last month, wearing down another former Arkle winner in Duc Des Genievres to take the Shloer Chase. She's the only mare in the race and still looks to be on the upgrade. On ratings, she does need to progress again to land this but don't rule that out in any haste.
Le Richebourg was returning from almost two years on the sidelines when pulled up in the fog-hidden John Durkan at Punchestown recently. How much ability remains intact is as unclear as the pictures of that race were, so it will be good to get a look at him now.
1.45 - Paddy Power Future Champions Novice Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
This has the potential to be a shootout between BALLYADAM and Appreciate It representing the top training enterprises of Gordon Elliott and Willie Mullins respectively.
After a shock reverse at Navan in February on his rules bow, Ballyadam has won a bumper and two contests over hurdles since. He's been odds-on in both starts over timber and comes here off the back of winning the Grade 1 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse last month. The likes of Dewcup and N'Golo were behind him that afternoon. This is another step up the ladder but he likely has plenty more improvement to come and gets a narrow vote.
Appreciate It couldn't reward his supporters at Cheltenham in March, finishing second to stablemate Ferny Hollow in the Champion Bumper after a wave of market support came for him. That was still a fine effort and he justified cramped odds for a winning start over hurdles at Cork last month on heavy ground, a race from which the runner-up has since come out and won well on next start.
He's another top prospect in this sphere and it's likely to be a battle for favouritism pre-empting a battle on the track.
The improving Call My Lyreen is 3-3 over timber and gives Elliott a strong second card to play here while Thedevilscoachman is also unbeaten and Noel Meade's charge has seen the form of his Cork success on hurdles bow boosted since by the second. They'll both be seeking to punch holes in the big duo.
2.20 - Paddy Power 'maybe I Like The Misery' Handicap Hurdle (2m)
As with plenty of the handicaps at this meeting, those sporting the JP McManus silks could have a good race amongst themselves. He's got a sextet amongst the hopefuls in this and there's lots of potential.
Mark Walsh partners Winner Takes Itall and they make for an interesting pairing. The Nathaniel gelding won on the Polytrack at Dundalk last month but slower ground is something of a worry for him and that should be factored in close to race-time.
Stablemate The Moyglass Flyer won this contest a year ago, making it 2-3 over timber when he did. He hasn't raced since but is low-mileage and retains plenty of scope for further improvement. The market should reveal plenty as to his forwardness on return.
Beyond The Law has started to re-find his form over fences/hurdles this season and wouldn't be one give an easy lead to, though this trip is probably shorter than ideal for him.
YOU RAISED ME UP went close in a similar contest here in February and Martin Brassil's charge was a maiden hurdle winner at Listowel (2m, soft) on his only run since. That's a useful enough piece of form and the fact he's been off 95 days is no worry as he is proven to go well fresh in the past. He's got stamina for further and so should be firing at the finish in a wide open handicap.
2.55 - Paddy Power Chase (Grade B, 3m)
Whether or not we can hope to see anything as dramatic as Roaring Bull's win in this contest last year remains to be seen but that renewal simply goes to underline how tough a puzzle this should be.
Last year's winner is back for another go with Gavin Brouder taking 7lb off his back. Roaring Bull has been pulled up in three of his last four starts, but he did finish second in the Troytown at Navan in November so cannot be overlooked completely.
Two against the field in such an open puzzle may be the way to look. TEN TEN won a beginners chase at Navan over 2m4f last winter and caught the eye back from a layoff last month at Naas over timber finishing fifth. His stamina has yet to be tested over a trip like this but he has scope for improvement dipping into a handicap over fences for the first time.
Home By The Lee is another strong-looking contender for Joseph O'Brien. He won his first two starts over fences at Limerick (2m6f, soft) and Cork (2m4f, soft) before finishing third behind Envoi Allen in the Drinmore at Fairyhouse last month. He's up and coming and needs plenty of attention on handicap bow.
3.30 - Paddy Power Flat One' Flat Race (2m4f)
REALITY CHEQUE was only good enough for second spot on debut at Fairyhouse (2m, soft) last month having gone off odds-on but that was a decent effort and he's likely to be plenty sharper for it now. He sets the standard on paper as Patrick and Willie Mullins look to claim the spoils in a race Appreciate It won a year ago.
Having taken the scalp of Reality Cheque on his debut, Noel Meade should know what to expect here and his Navan runner-up Killer Mode is a player with improvement forecast. He had more than four lengths in hand over Ballycairn (third) in that race (won by Mullins' Kilcruit) and both are likely to benefit from going up in distance now.
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