At The Races

RODANICHE should appreciate this step up in trip. The Arcadio gelding, a point-to-point recruit, ran a big race on his track debut at Listowel when second to Skippin Court over the minimum trip and looked like he would appreciate going a bit further then. There was nothing between him and Chiricahua jumping the last then when Paul Nolan's charge crashed out. The Camelot gelding went to post favourite at Listowel having shown plenty on the Flat. He looked to be going best before a mistake at the second-last and was rallying when exiting at the final flight. He commands obvious respect but has to give weight to Rodaniche now and his rival looks to have the potential for more improvement at this trip. Fancy A Cosmo has plenty of placed form but is fairly exposed off his mark of 109 and may be facing a couple of higher grade rivals.

• Top Tip: RODANICHE (9)
• Watch out for: CHIRICAHUA (1)

QUEENS BROOK is a classy performer and can make a winning return here. She was a bit undercooked when winning her maiden hurdle on her comeback last season before going down narrowly to subsequent Grade 1 winner Skyace at Down Royal. She signed off last season with a solid run to finish third behind Concertista in Grade 2 company at Fairyhouse and the 2020 Cheltenham Champion Bumper third sets a high standard here. Stablemate Say Goodbye was no match for a decent mare in Western Victory on her return at Gowran but that run under her belt will be a plus now and she could make the selection work. Lunar Display is another solid sort who should pick up prize money.

• Top Tip: QUEENS BROOK (3)
• Watch out for: SAY GOODBYE (4)

MR FRED ROGERS can make a winning start for Gordon Elliott. The Sholokhov gelding looked a nice sort when winning a point-to-point bumper back in March and was snapped up subsequently. Elliott was well placed to judge him as the runner-up in that contest, Gortmillish, was housed in Cullentra. L'impertinent was a beaten favourite when last seen at Killarney in May but it was still a decent run to finish fourth to Off Your Rocco in a solid enough contest. He could be a danger now on his return to action. Cullaghs Star has some decent placed form but may just be running into a better type of horse at this time of year.

• Top Tip: MR FRED ROGERS (3)
• Watch out for: L'IMPERTINENT (7)

Gordon Elliott looks to have another big shout here with British import EVER SO COOL. The Cullentra handler has a great record when picking up this kind of performer from across the water and this Shantou mare had some decent form in England, winning at Uttoxeter in May. This doesn't look like the hottest heat and she is worth following. Better Than Heaven sprang a 33/1 shock when winning at Navan back in June and went up 8lb for that narrow success. The form of that race has actually worked out okay and he could be competitive if turning up fit and ready. Getaday didn't run too badly when fourth over further at Cork last week and is another to consider.

• Top Tip: EVER SO COOL (3)
• Watch out for: BETTER THAN HEAVEN (8)

FIRE ATTACK showed a decent level over hurdles and if he transfers that to fences now, he should prove hard to beat in this company. The Gigginstown gelding never actually ran in a maiden hurdle and was highly tried over timber. He finished second in Grade 3 company on his jumping debut and was also runner-up in a Listed contest, so mixed it with some top novices. Champagne Sparkles has the benefit of a run over fences and that makes him a danger. The French-bred wouldn't have shown the same level over timber but it was a decent run to chase home Recite A Prayer at Tramore 10 days ago. The rest of these may be better placed in handicap company in time or rated events, but Auckland could take third.

• Top Tip: FIRE ATTACK (3)
• Watch out for: CHAMPAGNE SPARKLES (1)

GOLDEN JEWEL is still relatively unexposed over fences and may be able to make use of his lower mark now over the larger obstacles. He ran well when last seen, over hurdles, at Kilbeggan in June and has a mark of 132 in that sphere. The Brian Boru gelding is rated 18lb lower over fences but did run well in a couple of handicap events last season and looks capable of scoring off this kind of mark. The consistent Marshalled was a game winner at Gowran earlier in the month and has to be respected off a 5lb higher mark now. Owner J P McManus looks to have another live contender in Filon D'oudairies. He won here in August and ran well subsequently when third to the progressive Fairyhill Run at Kilbeggan.

• Top Tip: GOLDEN JEWEL (10)
• Watch out for: MARSHALLED (5)

KICKING PRINCESS has run really well in a couple of decent maiden hurdles since joining Eoin McCarthy and can get her head in front now. She has been third on her last two outings over timber and has been mixing it with some smart mares. This looks like a nice opportunity to get a win under her belt now. Gordon Elliott has a couple in this and it's interesting that Jamie Codd sticks with Scarlet Witch, who has won a point-to-point and showed some promise when sixth on her debut under Rules in a Listowel bumper last month. Diamondinthemud has been placed in a couple of bumpers recently and is another that has to come into calculations.

• Top Tip: KICKING PRINCESS (7)
• Watch out for: SCARLET WITCH (11)