17:35
The Young Offender showed up well for a fair way on his return to action from in excess of a two year break at Limerick earlier this month. Terence O’Brien’s charge making good headway towards the leaders prior to dropping back two out and eventually finishing seventh of the seventeen runners. The son of Pierre made his debut in April 2010 when runner-up to Jenari and he can reward connections patience here under jockey Robbie Power.

18:10
Gabrial Brandy has a fair bit to do at the weights but is taken to double his tally here for trainer Robbie Hennessy. The son of Urban Ocean has always appeared to want this quicker ground and he showed a marked improvement on his bumper efforts for this yard (and previously the stable of John Kiely) when making his debut on good going at Downpatrick. He won comfortably by four and a quarter lengths that day despite making a bad mistake at the last and despite having it all to do at the weights he should put up a bold show under Barry Geraghty.

18:40
Mountain Lough scored in comfortable fashion here back in August last year for trainer Louis Archdeacon and is taken to follow up over the course and distance. The son of Anshan hadn’t been seen over the smaller obstacles for in excess of two years prior to that success and was exploiting a significantly lower hurdles mark relative to his chase one. The ground shouldn’t be an issue given that he scored on good over fences at Killarney in May last year and if fit after a break he should go well under Andrew McNamara.

19:10
The John Walsh stable have been in good form in recent weeks and his Sligo Publican is the selection to score here in this two mile four furlong handicap hurdle. The daughter of Beneficial ran well at Limerick on her latest outing last weekend when not beaten far into fourth by Blazing Sonnet. She has shown good form on decent ground, most notably when finishing runner-up at the same track in April 2012 and should go well in this for jockey Rob Jones.

19:40
Ring Ben ran well on good ground at Gowran Park over two and a half miles back in September last year. He was a largely unfancied outsider on that occasion but was beaten just a quarter of a length by the useful flat performer Defence Of Duress. Paurick O’Connor’s charge has been well beaten when finishing in midfield in a couple of soft ground outings over hurdles since but back on good ground he should be capable of being in the shake-up here.

20:10
Samantha Jones is the first reserve here but she should go well on her return to rules racing and on her first start for Mick Winters on the track. The daughter of Brian Boru was still leading when tipping up two out in a Dromahane maiden point on her penultimate start on soft ground whilst she scored on good ground next time out in a similar event at the same track when winning easily by twelve lengths. The seven year old mare looks attractively handicapped off a mark of eighty nine having disappointing in the main over hurdles in 2012 and should go well here upped in trip if getting a run.

20:40
Overbury Prince has been beaten by a few useful types in his career so far, most notably the expensively purchased Golantilla when making his first start in bumpers on his latest outing here back in January. Prior to that he’d been running over hurdles and having been well beaten by Cheltenham Festival winner Champagne Fever in November he ran well when placed behind Starkie the following month. He looks set to put up a bold show with Robbie McNamara booked to ride.

17:55
Tommy Stack’s horses are in fine form at the moment and his Nayef filly Mischief n Mayhem is taken to make a winning turf debut in this opening fillies maiden following on from three placed efforts on Dundalk’s All-Weather surface. Last time out the David Keoghan owned filly finished a four length third to Caged Lightning in a six runner mile event last month and I expect this step up in trip to suit her also.

18:25
Treasure The Ridge has shaped with plenty of promise in his fourth starts to date, including when last seen out when placed third in a mile maiden on soft to heavy ground at Limerick earlier this month. Dermot Weld’s son of Galileo has yet to encounter ground this quick but his sire’s progeny do well on a sound surface and coming from a top yard and with Pat Smullen up he looks set to take all the beating here.

18:55
Stephen Hero is taken to score on his second outing in handicaps when stepped up to ten furlongs for the first time this evening. Andy Oliver’s son of Celtic Swing was last seen out in a mile handicap at Naas when beaten just half a length by Snakes And Ladder last week and having finished well the full-sister to Group 3 winner Flowers Of Spring is the selection here with leading jockey Chris Hayes booked to ride.

19:25
The Pat Flynn trained Not My Idea has been lightly raced on the flat in recent seasons with his latest outing in this sphere coming when third of sixteen behind Star Of Aragon over fourteen furlongs at Wexford just over a year ago. The son of Tomba has been racing over hurdles with strictly limited success this past winter but he does have decent form at this track when placed in a maiden hurdle back in September 2011 and that also came on the good ground he encountered that day, he’s taken to score here under ten pound claimer Ian Queally.

20:00
Key People ran well on his racecourse debut for trainer Tom Taafe at Kilbeggan earlier this month. The son of Alderbrook finished a ten and a half length third to Seskinane (a disqualified winner at Sligo last night) on soft ground over two and a half miles under today’s jockey Paul Townend and a repeat of that run should see him go close in this.

20:30
Fourmilewater has seemingly been disappointing for his small yard in three maiden hurdles and a point outing so far for trainer J F O’Shea. The six year old son of Curtain Time has pulled hard in the past, including in a maiden hurdle here back in September and the fitting of a first time hood on his handicap debut could work the oracle for a yard that shows a decent level stakes profit at this track.

21:00
Our Lady Carmel disappointed when last seen out in a Tramore maiden hurdle last month but the Prunella Dobbs trained mare showed some useful form in similar races to this last Summer, most notably when beaten just two and three quarter lengths in a bumper on good ground at Kilbeggan and she’s taken to get off the mark here at the second time of asking under Mark Enright.

Clonmel

17:40
Brian Hamilton’s Overbury mare Over Church Road was arguably unlucky when making her return to rules racing in a Maiden Hurdle at Downpatrick just under two weeks ago. Partnered by the very promising conditional Liam McKenna the seven year old travelled well to challenge approaching the second last only to run wide and allow Shershewill the victory. Over Church Road again contests a Mares Maiden Hurdle here and looks set to reward those who support her here.

18:10
Zabana scored on his final outing on the flat on soft ground at Tramore back in October last year and Andrew Lynch’s charge made a solid debut over hurdles at Limerick at the start of the month when third to Band Of Blood beaten just 5 ¼ lengths. That came on yielding ground and the return to a softer surface should pay dividends for the son of Halling here as he attempts to get off the mark at the second time of asking.

18:40
Mia’s Vic makes a return to the scene of his only career victory thus far, that coming on heavy ground over the course and distance back in August last year. Noel Kelly’s gelding tackles identical conditions here for his first outing at Sligo since and he travelled well into the race and ran on well on his handicap debut when third to an in form Don’t Tell Pa at Limerick back in October. The son of Old Vic stepped up markedly in grade for his chasing debut thereafter when outclassed in a Grade 2 at Down Royal whilst his next outing came when upped in trip for a Beginners Chase at Downpatrick. Owned by Christina Kelly the seven year old hasn’t been seen since disappointing at Navan back in November but he can go well off a prolonged break here.

19:10
Troll D’Oudairies takes a marked drop in trip here having run well when runner-up to Tukawhile over three miles at Tipperary at the start of the month. The son of Shaanmer has been running well during the winter, most notably when looking a likely winner in a Beginners Chase at Cork prior to coming down back in November. He seems versatile in terms of trip having placed over two miles behind useful opposition and with form on heavy he looks a worthy favourite.

19:40
Twigline appears to be the second string for trainer Willie Mullins and she ran well when last seen out over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival when beaten just a length and a half by stablemate Upsie in a Mares Novice Hurdle. Prior to that the ex-French daughter of Martaline had finished runner-up in a decent Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Limerickon heavy ground. She scored easily on her first outing in Ireland having transferred over from France when winning at Fairyhouse back in November and she looks set to double her Irish tally here.

20:10
The Donegal trained Brabazon has yet to score in nine outings over hurdles thus far but he did go close when beaten just half a length when runner-up having finished strongly off a three pound higher mark than he races off today at Downpatrick in August last year. The ten year old has had just the one hurdles start since when well beaten behind Kai Li at Balinrobe back in September and though he’s been absent since finishing in rear on the flat at Wolverhampton back in November he has gone well fresh in the past having landed a Lingfield handicap off a two and a half year lay-off in November 2010.

20:40
Crofton Trail ran well on her racecourse debut for trainer Dot Love in a valuable fillies race at the Punchestown Festival last month. The daughter of Heron Island finished fifth beaten eleven and a half lengths in a field of twenty behind Tropical Three under today’s jockey Steven Crawford. That race is likely to prove a decent affair and she is taken to score here in a much smaller field at the second time of asking.

Sligo Racecourse

18:00
John Joseph Murphy has had a few winners of late and his Durand made a pleasing debut earlier this month at Limerick under Shane Foley behind the Pat Shanahan trained Hold The Line. That came on soft to heavy ground so he should be suited by tonight’s heavy ground and Conor King takes the ride tonight.

18:30
Connacht Council showed marked improvement from his seasonal return when stepped up in trip at Navan just under two weeks ago when runner-up to Cyclone, he’d previously started favourite for his good ground return when disappointing at Gowran Park last month and with Shane Kelly again taking the ride tonight he’s taken to step up on that on his first outing on heavy ground.

19:00
Summer Star scored in a couple of decent handicap hurdles at Leopardstown earlier this year and is taken to make a winning debut in this fillies maiden race. Summer Star scored in two bumpers back in 2012, including in a listed race at Limerick under Katie Walsh and looks set to score for the Ted Walsh yard with the excellent Pat Smullen booked to ride.

19:30
Kalaroa made a decent debut under Declan McDonogh in a heavy ground maiden over nine furlongs at The Curragh last October. The son of Barathea has been racing on better ground since or at unsuitable trips (twelve furlongs on good ground initially and then nine furlongs on soft ground) and is taken to make a winning handicap debut off a mark of fifty five (effectively fifty sex due to being out of the handicap) under Tadhg O’Shea.

20:00
King Shabra from the Oliver Brady yard has been beaten by some very useful types in his bumper outings so far, most notably Bonisland, Champagne James, Defy Logic and Owen Mc but he stepped up on those when running fourth of eight at The Curragh under today’s jockey Harley Dunne behind Made In Germany from the all-conquering Willie Mullins yard.

20:30
Il Fenomeno proved to be a useful hurdler as a Novice back in 2011/12 scoring in a Grade 3 event at Navan. He’s proven disappointing in the main since with the exception and his only success since that Grade 3 event came off a mark of 130 at the Punchestown Festival in soft ground last month. The son of Denon handles soft ground though and has run well on heavy in the past and as such should be capable of putting up a bold show on his chasing debut.

21:00
Solstice Knight has run well in two handicap chases so far since making the switch from points and Hunter Chasing where he’d been racing in the early part of 2013. At Navan in his first handicap chase he was still fifth when pulling up in a valuable race won by the decent stayer Panther Claw whilst he followed that up with a good success at Fairyhouse over Easter when seeing off Sea Master by 1 ¾ lengths. The Edward O’Grady trained son of Bob Back should be capable of scoring again here and he has shown decent form on heavy ground in the past so the ground shouldn’t inconvenience him here.

Racing at Roscommon

14:10
Tuscan Light is an interesting filly from the Dermot Weld yard. The daughter of Medicean and Group 1 winning mare Bright And Clear is a sister to the group placed Blog and made her debut at Dundalk last month. Tuscan Light kept on well for third that day and makes her first outing on turf today.

14:45
The John Oxx trained Majestic Jasmine remains a maiden after three starts at Dundalk but should appreciate this switch to racing on turf here. The Jaber Abdullah owned daughter of New Approach hasn’t been seen out as a 3yo as yet and was last seen finishing runner-up to Hazy Glow over 7 furlongs at Dundalk in October. The step up in trip looks sure to suit her and she should go well here.

15:20
Threat Resolved has run well enough in his four starts to date to suggest that he can make an impact on quicker ground here (three of his siblings performed best on good or quicker) and he has dropped 4lbs since finishing well beaten on soft to heavy ground under today’s jockey Chris Hayes in first time blinkers on his handicap debut at Limerick earlier this month. Andy Oliver’s gelding showed promise on his debut last season behind subsequent Group 1 winner Kingsbarns and I expect the quicker ground to bring about improvement here.

15:55
Takeyourcapoff has proven to be a useful hurdler in recent seasons and makes her return to the flat for the first time since last August here. The Jessica Harrington trained daughter of King’s Theatre was last seen out on the flat finishing runner-up to Sir Ector under Fran Berry at Leopardstown on good to soft ground at Leopardstown whilst prior to that she’d been placed in a big field handicap at the Galway Festival. Takeyourcapoff drops back to 14 furlongs here with young apprentice Charlie Elliott taking a valuable 7lbs off.

16:30
Darraghs Day was fourth in this race last year for local trainer Martina Doran and he returns here off a 2lb lower mark. He probably made his move a little too early that day under Niall McCullagh but was beaten just 2 ½ lengths by Star Of Aragon at the finish and has solid form here having also run well at the track over hurdles. He disappointed in that sphere when last seen out here in October but is taken to bounce back here off a break.

17:00
Tom Foley’s Ontheground is a fair hurdler but what marks him out in this company ahead of his flat debut is his good record in that sphere at this track. Ontheground has had just the three starts here but they’ve resulted in a win (in a Maiden Hurdle here in October) and a place (in a handicap in April 2012), he disappointed when sent off favourite for his only other start here but the son of Presenting should go well here on his flat debut coming off the back of a second at Clonmel over hurdles nine days ago.

17:30
Denis Hogan saddled a winner at Kilbeggan yesterday and his Emmy Lou is taken to score at the second time of asking here with leading jockey Mikey Fogarty booked for the ride. The daughter of Presenting finished runner-up in a soft ground bumper here on debut under Jane Mangan when staying on strongly at the finish and a repeat of that performance should see her go close here.

18:00
Sensing ran well on her latest outing at Cork back in May last year when beaten 9 ¼ lengths into fourth by Hilltop Tommy under today’s jockey Katie Walsh. That came on good ground and it was a marked improvement on her debut at the same track on soft ground the previous November. It’s a slight concern that the daughter of Singspiel has had just the two outings in an 18 month career but she looks likely to run well here.

5.40 – Dancing Roe, Robyn Rua, Wicklow Gold

6.10 – Never Complain, Sizing Sahara, Grange Academy

6.45 – American Flyer, Rawnag, Mannheim

7.20 – Mossley, Ninetieth Minute, Sweet My Lord

7.50 – Tom Asunder, Karabak, Treat Yourself

8.25 – Pigeon Creek, Double Seven, Tipped Up Harry

8.55 – Top Othe Ra

5.25 – First Friday, Pop Murphy, Young Finnegan

6.00 – Ballyreesode, Marshim

6.35 – Sizing Rio

7.10 – Playing, Mayo Abbey

7.40 – Adams Wood, Soaring High

8.10 – Carrig Glen, Contessa Margerita, Kala Brandy

8.40 – Baku Bay, Inis Ui Dhrisceoil, Warofthegiants

17:15
Dermot Weld’s yard has been in the winners of late and his Intense Focus filly Elegant Peace is a tentative selection in this 2yo Maiden restricted to fillies. The unraced chestnut filly is a half-sister to some speedy juveniles, most notably Hoh Mike and Dario Gee Gee whilst another sibling Hogmaneigh was a useful sprinter, primarily for Jim Goldie a few years back.

17:50
A Maiden in all but name here with just the Kevin Prendergast trained Saakhen having seen the racecourse before. Saakhen is taken to make that experience count by seeing off his unraced rivals under jockey Chris Hayes. The son of Invincible Spirit was a fast finishing fourth behind Fast In The Wind and subsequent winner Coach House at The Curragh last month over 5 furlongs and this step up to 6 furlongs promises to bring out more from the Hamdan Al Maktoum owned colt.

18:20
Lightnin Hopkins won twice here early in his juvenile campaign and though he proved disappointing when stepped up to group company at The Curragh and later on in the season in good handicaps here and at Dundalk he’s taken to bounce back to form on his first outing as a 3yo. The son of Kodiac is sure to be fit for his return to action and will appreciate the yielding to soft ground that he’ll encounter here.

18:50
Rehn’s Nest was the impressive winner of a Gruop 3 event at The Curragh against her elders on the opening day of the season and she shaped as if this step up to 10f would suit her when seeing off Yellow Rosebud that day. The daughter of Authorized was breaking her maiden on that occasion and receiving weight from Group 2 winning 4yo Princess Highway she can double her tally here under Kevin Manning.

19:20
Resolute Response ran well despite being green for the Dermot Weld yard on debut at Tipperary two weeks ago and I expect this son of Dansili to build on that here. He was beaten 2 ½ lengths by the favourite Freewheel and the Jim Bolger trained Teoirim on that occasion and the brother of the very useful Casual Conquest can get off the mark at the second time of asking in this.

19:50
Tsar Paul has been running well on the all-weather at Dundalk of late and is taken to record a first victory on turf in this 7f handicap. John Nash’s gelding was beaten 4 lengths off this mark at Dundalk earlier in the month behind Eastern Rules and will be making his first turf start since August 2011 here under the promising Luke Dempsey.

20:20
Morga is taken to score here for the Jim Bolger yard. The daughter of Whipper showed up well prior to weakening inside the final two furlongs when stepped up in grade to contest a listed race at Navan on her latest outing a week ago and having placed three times in maidens as a juvenile she looks ready to get off the mark on her fourth outing in this mile maiden for 3yo fillies.

20:50
Paynes Find scored on his handicap debut for Charles O’Brien at Gowran Park last week and is the selection in this closing race to follow up that success. The son of Holy Roman Emperor stayed on well to see off Blistering Dancer over 7 furlongs on soft ground and this step up to a mile looks sure to suit the gelding who has the services of apprentice Shane Kelly this time around.

Naas Racecourse

17:15

Darwins Fox is taken to build on the promise he’s shown over fences thus far by getting the better of Galway Hurdle winner Rebel Fitz here.  The Henry De Bromhead trained son of Kahyasi has finished runner-up on three of his four chase outings to date, beaten by very useful performers on each occasion and his experience can make all the difference here on ground that should hold no problems for the Andrew Lynch ridden gelding.

17:45

The John Walsh yard are in good form at the moment and his Steady Ed is the selection to record a first success over fences here.  The chestnut gelding was a winner over hurdles at Limerick on heavy ground back in November and showed signs of a return to form under today’s jockey Francis McCurtin at Cork last month and looks to have a favourites chance here off just a 3lb higher mark.

18:15

Mad Brian has shown plenty of promise in his bumper and hurdles career so far and despite making his chasing debut here he is taken to get the better of some more experienced rivals in this novice chase.  The Gillian Callaghan trained gelding scored at the third time of asking over hurdles when  winning easily on soft ground at Navan in March, since then though he’s been below par – most recently when beaten 12 lengths by Rye Martini in a conditions hurdle at the Punchestown Festival and connections have wasted no time in sending him over fences here.

18:45

Pat Shanahan’s yard has been in good form of late and his Hold The Line, successful when an odds-on favourite for a Maiden at Limerick earlier in the month can double his tally in this mile contest.  Hold The Line had finished runner-up twice already this season behind Diesel Ten and Pay Day Kitten and with the ground likely to suit the son of Ivan Denisovich he should go close here.

19:20

Daniel O’Sullivan’s filly Lake Louise had been running well over a mile this season, including in a big field handicap at Gowran Park at the end of last month.  The step up to listed company proved too much for the daughter of Haatef when beaten 9 lengths by Alive Alive Oh at Navan last week and the drop back to a mile looks likely to suit this filly and she can get the better of some more fancied rivals here.

Racing

19:50

The veteran Maundy Money ran well at Limerick on heavy ground last month when keeping on well into second behind Star Links under apprentice jockey Connor King.  The consistent son of King’s Best had been running well at Dundalk during the winter and he races off the same mark (63) that he did that day.  Fergal Lynch takes the mount on David Marnane’s charge today and Maundy Money can record and eighth career success here.

20:20

Defence Of Duress was a decent performer on the flat in the UK for Tom Tate prior to being sent hurdling with current trainer Tom Taafe by owner Fitri Hay.  The son of Motivator disappointed when last seen out in that sphere at the Cheltenham Festival but has useful form on the flat at up to 12f whilst he was beaten a head at Goodwood over 2m 5f last August and can make a winning return to the flat here.

17:40
Kandinski is taken to get off the mark at the third time of asking over hurdles for Cork based trainer Robert Tyner. The son of Bienamado has yet to win under rules whilst filling the runner-up birth six times from seven starts thus far. Kandinski finished runner-up to the top class Simonsig on his second outing under rules so clearly has ability and he appeared to appreciate the step up in trip last time out and is taken to score in this.

18:10
Won In The Dark put in a solid effort when beaten just 6 lengths by Solwhit over 3m 1f last time out in the Grade 1 Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree, his best run since August last year at a track that he regularly does well at. The Sabrina Harty trained gelding won this race in 2012 under today’s jockey Andrew Lynch and should take all the beating again in 2013.

18:40
Usuel Smurfer has shown promise in his two rules outings for Shark Hanlon, finishing fairly close up in behind in hot looking bumpers won by Mullaghanoe River and Blackmail at Leopardstown in December and January. The son of Loxias won a 2m 4f point on good to yielding ground at Oldcastle in 2012 and with improvement expected from those initial bumper outings he should be in the shake up here.

19:10
Blossom Gate appears to have come into her own of late after making something of a slow start to her hurdling career. The John Kiely trained daughter of Westerner scored on her first two bumper outings, including at the Galway Festival in 2011 but didn’t break her duck over hurdles until November of the following year. The William Powell-Harris owned mare finished strongly when dropped in trip at Limerick earlier this month under regular pilot Andrew Latta and shaped as though this step up to 2m 6f would suit her for a yard that saddled winner here yesterday.

19:40
Becauseicouldntsee has been tried in a number of big staying handicap chases in recent outings (most notably the Grand National) and whilst it appears he is probably better over shorter did run well at the Cheltenham Festival over 3m 2f. He’s run well twice before at Cheltenham so it was no surprise to see him feature that day whilst he’s also won here when taking a bumper over 2m 1f in July 2009. Of more interest in the context of this race is that he’s slipping down the weights and is now back down to the mark off which he was runner-up in the 2010 Paddy Power at Leopardstown off.

20:10
Brian Hamilton’s Warne has already scored in this sphere in 2013 having won over 2m 5fat Fairyhouse in February seeing off leading Hunter Chaser Tammys Hill in the process. The Bob Back gelding followed that up with a good fourth at Aintree despite being taken very wide by a loose horse jumping the Canal Turn. Warne was a very useful novice hurdler where his victories included a listed success at Limerick and he’s turning out to be a top class Hunter Chaser, particularly over these sub-3 mile trips.

20:40
Bishops Road showed a good turn of foot to win his point at Lismore back in March under Damian Murphy, the son of Heron Island was ridden with great restraint and quickened up well when asked to score readily by 12 lengths from a couple of useful looking maidens. Henry De Bromhead’s charge looks likely to prove difficult to beat on his rules debut for the Gigginstown House Stud team.

Killarney