3.20
It’s hard to get your head round the Curragh begin their Flat season just days after the euphoria of the Cheltenham Festival but it’s something us punters will have to get used to pretty quickly if we want to stay ahead of the game and make it pay. The first quality race on the card comes in the shape of the 6f handicap where Zaralanta is bound to prove popular with the punters. John Oxx’s inmate scored in terrific style over today’s C&D on debut and while she went on to be a tad disappointing on her final start as a 3yo, the trip of a mile that day can be put up as a plausible excuse for her defeat. Back over what could turn out to be her optimum conditions, the daughter of Danehill Dancer is clearly the one the rest have to beat but there could be some mileage in hunting down some value against her in the shape of in-form, race-fit SIX OF HEARTS. Cecil Ross’s charge warmed up nicely for a tilt at the prize with a gutsy victory on the AW at Dundalk recently and with sprint distances seemingly the key to her better performances of late, she makes plenty of each-way appeal around the 6/1 mark.

3.55
It will be interesting to see how Aidan O’Brien’s runners perform on the first day of the flat season and the Ballydolye handler sends two to post in the Group 3 Express Stakes over 1m. Of the pair, Devoted To You is the clear pick on form, but there has to be a nagging doubt about her ability to see out the trip on the evidence of her four performances last season as a 2yo. With that in mind, punters should be mindful about not taking too short a price and the value definitely lies with POLLEN at a whopping 16/1 on the early morning lists. Best fresh as she proved when coming from an unpromising position to snatch the Irish Lincoln in the shadows of the post last season, Tommy Stack’s charge is 2-2 over today’s C&D and there is no way she should be dismissed so disparagingly by the bookmakers.

4.30
The Irish Lincoln looks as difficult to solve as ever so the safest policy is to have a couple of strings to your bow. TORAIDHE hasn’t always looked the easiest of rides with a slightly skywards head carriage but there’s no denying his ability when his mind is on the job as it was this day last season when he landed to concluding maiden. His best run thereafter also came at this venue when a creditable fifth in an ultra-competitive contest won by Poet so let’s hope that a return to the Co Kildare track brings out the best in Jim Bolger’s charge once again. The other to catch the eye is MAXIMO lurking down towards the foot of the weights. Thomas McCourt’s 7yo is forced to run from several pounds out of the handicap but that slight negative is offset by the fact useful claimer Ben Curtis can take a valuable 5lb off and he arrives here with fitness on his side courtesy of an excellent effort on the AW at Dundalk last time out. The son of Orpen stays beyond today’s trip and he is capable of running a huge race at 20/1 if the low drawn horses end up having an edge.

CORK

2.25
FROSTED GRAPE (NAP) sets a decent standard in the opening maiden hurdle and looks good to get favourite backers off to a flyer. Runner up to yesterday’s Gowran Park winner Gates Of Rome at Clonmel two starts ago, Timothy Doyle’s inmate ran right up to is best form last time out when a creditable third behind Some Slam at Naas and a repeat of that effort should be good enough in what looks a fairly modest heat.

3.30
Go On Ya Boyo won well enough at Limerick the last day but he will face no easy task off his revised mark up against the likes of HEARTANSOUL and POM FLYER who are both track specialists. The former would have needed the run the other day when fourth behind Max Almighty at Gowran so it’s safe to expect a more polished display this afternoon, while the latter, who ran a decent race in the MCR Hurdle at Leopardstown, ran well enough over fences at Gowran last time out to give him a squeak back over hurdles here today.

4.40
COOL QUEST has been a model of consistency all season and is fancied to go well again in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle. Terence O’Brien’s charge agonisingly failed to reel back Blazing Tempo two starts ago at Leopardstown and despite not hitting the frame last time out at Naas, that was a much tougher heat than the one she faces this afternoon. Molly’s Boy, smooth winner at Fairyhouse last time out, could well turn out to be the danger.