Otis Brankin-Frisby

1.20 Triumph Hurdle 2m1f Proactif has been parachuted into the top of this market almost by default after his stablemate and fellow McManus hotpot Narciso Has was ruled out last month. His Fairyhouse win was promising, though he had track position and ultimately has shown little to justify his place in the market. David Casey  described him as "a stayer… but not exceptional". SELMA DE VARY does look exceptional, however, having got close to Narciso Has from a long way back at Leopardstown...

1.20 Mares' Novices' Hurdle 2m1f The vibes around BAMBINO FEVER have been very good and she is very much the one they all have to beat. She brings a high level of form into this race having won last year's Champion Bumper before following up in the Grade 1 at Punchestown. She is unbeaten except for her reappearance this season against a race-fit Oldschool Outlaw, at a time when Mullins's horses were not firing. I expect her to reverse those placings on better ground and the form of that race...

1.20 Turners Novices' Hurdle 2m5f Having taken the first four places in the Supreme, the British novices have shortened considerably for this and I think one of them will win it. Paul Nicholls nearly won the Ultima with Quebecois yesterday and in the same colours, NO DRAMA THIS END has a brilliant chance of getting him off the mark this week. Comparisons with Denman may feel premature, but everything has come so easily to him over hurdles and he has something inscrutable about him that form...