Any Second Now starts out on road to Aintree return in quality conditions hurdle

Saturday: Punchestown

Punchestown and raceday sponsors Tote Ireland have teamed up to offer free admission to the track's popular New Year's Eve fixture and punters will have the chance to see some old favourites in action in the 2m3½f conditions hurdle (1.57).

A quality event won in recent years by the likes of Boston Bob, Supasundae, Killultagh Vic, Burrows Saint, Bachasson and Darver Star, the ten-runner contest sees last season's Grand National runner-up Any Second Now make his first appearance since that Aintree near-miss behind Noble Yeats.

His mark of 136 leaves him with something to find with those holding official ratings, topped by 2018 Supreme Novices' Hurdle winner Summerville Boy, who makes his first start for Henry de Bromhead, and 2022 Stayers' Hurdle seventh Koshari (both rated 148).

"It's a nice place to start him back for the season," said Ted Walsh, trainer of Any Second Now.

Summerville Boy: absent since November 2021 and now returns for Henry de BromheadCredit: Dan Mullan (Getty Images)

"He had been looking like running at Navan a couple of weeks ago before the meeting was called off. He's ready to start back. Hopefully all roads lead to Aintree again this season."

On Koshari, trainer David Christie said: "It's a starting point for him. The trip might be a bit on the short side, he seems to enjoy further now he's older, and he should improve for the run."

Like Summerville Boy, Noel Meade's Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle scorer Jeff Kidder is returning from a 420-day break, having only made one hurdles start since striking in Grade 1 company at the 2021 Punchestown festival.

"It's great to get him back out again after a few hiccups over the last while," said Meade.

"It looks a very suitable race for him and the trip should be okay, but the ground might not be ideal after all the rain we've had. I'm sure he'll improve for his first start back but he's ready to run."

Saint Sam is Willie Mullins' sole representative on his return to hurdling. He was second to Jeff Kidder at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival on his penultimate start in this sphere.

Jeff Kidder (left): renews rivalry with Saint Sam (furthest right) after the pair finished 1-2 in the 2021 Boodles Juvenile Handicap HurdleCredit: Getty Images

Cesarewitch winner Run For Oscar competes on equal terms to Jeff Kidder and is just 2lb wrong at the weights with Summerville Boy and Koshari.

Race fitness is on the dual-purpose performer's side as he drops in trip from a creditable third in a £125,000 handicap hurdle over 3m½f at Haydock last time.

Trainer Charles Byrnes said: "On ratings, you'd like to think he'll be competitive but the ground might be a negative."

Weseekhimhere, Spoiled Rotten and Floueur all go for Gordon Elliott, with the latter the pick of the trio, but he must overcome being wrong at the weights with his main rivals.

Read Saturday's previews:

1.50 Newbury: 'I toyed with the idea of the Challow' - who's hopeful of a big handicap run?

2.10 Warwick: a win for Wynne? Keith Melrose expects a bold show from Moss in veterans' chase

2.25 Newbury: who will add their name to the glittering honour roll in the Mandarin Chase?

2.32 Punchestown: 'I think he'll take some beating' - can in-form Barry Connell bag valuable pot?

3.00 Newbury: 'It's as good a Challow as I can recall' - but can anyone stop Hermes Allen?

3.35 Newbury: 'Natural' Nothin To Ask just one of host of progressive novices in hot handicap

Punchestown: Any Second Now starts out on road to Aintree return in quality conditions hurdle

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