At The Races

LEVEL NEVERENDING won two summer bumpers for Joseph O'Brien and can make a winning start over hurdles for new connections. He beat the useful Merlin Giant at the Galway Festival and followed up with a wide margin success at Killarney. The Flemensfirth gelding, who is related to winning jumpers, is bred to handle winter ground. In From The Cold registered his fifth victory on the Flat at Leopardstown on Saturday from a mark of 93 and has to be respected although he might be better for this first taste of hurdle racing. Masked Marvel, who is hooded for his hurdling bow, beat a subsequent dual bumper winner when making all in his only start in point-to-points and is another to consider along with Navan bumper winner One Last Tango and the newcomer Low Style whose dam was a Listed hurdle winner in France.

• Top Tip: LEVEL NEVERENDING (2)
• Watch out for: IN FROM THE COLD (1)

BARNACULLIA won a maiden over course and distance last month before finishing a creditable fifth in the valuable Lartigue Hurdle at Listowel. He looks like a horse that will go a bit further in time but the ground will make this a test of stamina and Jordan Gainford's 5lb claim is a big asset. Michael Mulvany also runs Ballinrobe heavy ground winner Buzz Light but he might need his first outing for five months. Faith Du Val won well at Sligo and dropping in trip will help after she weakened before falling over 2m4f at Listowel last time. Good World has won on his last two visits to this venue and has to come into calculations along with Cork maiden winner Dreamsrmadeofthis who was far from disgraced in a 'winners of one' contest when last in action at the Punchestown Festival.

• Top Tip: BARNACULLIA (3)
• Watch out for: BUZZ LIGHT (2)

Five of these were successful last time out which makes this a competitive contest for the grade. INDIAN ADMIRAL defied an absence of over a year to make a winning start for Henry de Bromhead at Galway and can follow up off an 8lb higher mark. The 6-year-old won with a bit to spare on that occasion and handled soft ground well. Elite Des Mottes got off the mark at Killarney and has claims off a 7lb higher mark while Clarens was successful at Listowel but the Flat-bred 4-year-old possibly would prefer less testing ground. Choir Practice looks on a workable mark after a snug maiden win last time and the form of Ricky Bobby's Cork win has worked out well but he's been off since that victory in July.

• Top Tip: INDIAN ADMIRAL (7)
• Watch out for: CLARENS (8)

Fangio De Vassy is the clear form pick on his fifth to Stattler in a maiden hurdle over this trip at Leopardstown last Christmas. However, the Dromahane point-to-point winner has failed to recapture that form in three outings since including when reappearing at Killarney earlier this month. CAESAR ROCK showed promise in maiden hurdles last season including after a break when a close-up fourth at Navan and gets a tentative vote. Elmount appears to be progressing with each run and could also take a hand, while Clarabello probably ran probably his best race on testing ground here last spring and is another to consider.

• Top Tip: CAESAR ROCK (1)
• Watch out for: FANGIO DE VASSY (5)

Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore teamed up to take this 12 months ago with subsequent Gold Cup winner Minella Indo and they may have the answer again with EKLAT DE RIRE The point-to-point winner impressed with his jumping and galloping when scoring at Punchestown and Naas last term. He was thought good enough to take on Monkfish in the Brown Advisory at Cheltenham and was a shade unlucky to depart when pecking on landing after halfway. The progressive Fairyhill Run comes out best at the weights in receipt of 19lb from the selection and is another that will ensure a good pace, while Conflated exited early when favourite last month for the Kerry National. The stamina endowed The Big Dog was last seen winning the Grand National Trial at Punchestown.

• Top Tip: EKLAT DE RIRE (2)
• Watch out for: FAIRYHILL RUN (5)

MT LEINSTER is an exciting recruit to fences. The smart dual-purpose gelding has five career wins holding a rating of over 100 on the Flat and is Grade 1 placed over hurdles. He faced a stiff task after a ten-month absence when sent off favourite for the Ebor Handicap and should be spot on after another run on the Flat at Listowel. Soviet Pimpernel was a useful novice hurdler winning a Grade 3 at Limerick but his jumping was far from fluent when sent chasing last term. Cayd Boy was a progressive sort in handicap hurdles last season winning a valuable event at Down Royal and Liz Doyle's charge is one to note on his chasing debut.

• Top Tip: MT LEINSTER (9)
• Watch out for: SOVIET PIMPERNEL (10)

FAMEAFTERTHEGLORY was sold for a six figure sum soon after winning a point-to-point last December and showed definite promise on both bumper outings earlier this year. The Gavin Cromwell-trained gelding beat all bar the useful Grand Jury at Punchestown and also filled the runner-up spot in a Ballinrobe event that has worked out quite well. Where It All Began made a promising start at Limerick last Christmas but needs to bounce back after running too bad to be true at Fairyhouse. Western Flyer took a Tipperary point-to-point in good style last spring and the booking of Derek O'Connor catches the eye. Time Gents and Olord are others to consider.

• Top Tip: FAMEAFTERTHEGLORY (2)
• Watch out for: WHERE IT ALL BEGAN (11)