Brighterdayshead's potential chase debut among the big highlights in store in Ireland this weekend

The Irish jumps season kicks up a gear with fixtures at Gowran Park and Naas this weekend attracting some eyecatching entries. Here is what you can look forward to

Brown Lad Handicap Hurdle (2.27 Naas, Sunday)

A typically competitive, well-contested handicap hurdle, the Brown Lad features 18 entries, most notably dual Grade 1-winning novice chaser Spillane's Tower.

Spillane's TowerCredit: Getty Images

Trained by Jimmy Mangan, the seven-year-old was last seen chasing home Galopin Des Champs in the Punchestown Gold Cup and was scheduled to make his seasonal reappearance in the Champion Chase at Down Royal last weekend before being withdrawn due to the ground. He last competed over hurdles at the Punchestown festival in 2023, when runner-up to Monbeg Park in a novice hurdle, and looks well treated off a mark of 130.

Another interesting entry is Backtonormal for Gavin Cromwell. He has been on the sidelines since February, when he landed a valuable handicap chase at the Dublin Racing Festival, and last ran over hurdles at last year's Punchestown festival when he won the Red Mills Auction Hurdle Series Final.

Barberstown Castle Steeplechase (3.02 Naas, Sunday)

Willie Mullins has farmed the Barberstown Castle Chase over the last decade and is going for his 11th win on the bounce in the Naas Grade 3 with Champ Kiely and Ile Atlantique in contention.

A Grade 1-winning novice hurdler in the 2022-23 season, Champ Kiely took Grade 3 honours at Navan in March before finishing third behind stablemate Spindleberry in the WillowWarm Gold Cup at Fairyhouse the following month. He then reappeared just nine days later and relished the step up to 3m1f to defeat Ballyburn in Grade 1 company at Punchestown.

Champ Kiely ended last season with Grade 1 success at PunchestownCredit: Patrick McCann

Although his Navan win came over this trip, the nine-year-old has excelled over further.

Champ Kiely's stablemate Ile Atlantique is similarly versatile when it comes to distance. He landed his beginners' chase over 2m4½f last season before bolting up in the Grade 2 Racing Post Novice Chase at this track over two miles.

He lost his way in three runs afterwards and was last seen falling at Punchestown in the same race Champ Kiely won.

Mullins is likely to face some stiff opposition, however, with both Inthepocket and Only By Night possible runners. Grade 1-winning novice hurdler Inthepocket could represent the in-form Henry de Bromhead, having made a hugely impressive chase debut at Wexford last season before he was a beaten favourite behind Ile Atlantique in January.

The Gavin Cromwell-trained Only By Night enjoyed a tremendous campaign last season, landing three chases on the bounce before finishing an excellent second behind Jango Baie in the Arkle at Cheltenham and filling the same spot behind Majborough at Punchestown.

Grade 2 winner Touch Me Not from the Gordon Elliott stable, Je T'Ai Porte and Gaelic Arc complete the seven entries.

Only By Night: the Arkle second is set to reappear

Other highlights in Ireland include . . .

There are some exciting entries at Gowran Park on Saturday, particularly in the opening two-mile beginners' chase (12.28).

The Elliott-trained Brighterdaysahead could make her eagerly awaited debut over fences, while Kala Conti is also a noteworthy entry for the same stable. Lantry Lady, a Grade 3 winner over hurdles at the track, could also feature along with the Ian Donoghue-trained Break My Soul. She finished fourth on her final two starts last season in Grade 1 company behind Lossiemouth and State Man.

The 2m maiden hurdle (2.45) could be a cracker with Thedeviluno, The Passing Wife, Skylight Hustle and Vitorio Piel all possible runners, albeit they also have options at Naas the following day.

In the 2m beginners' chase (3.37) at Naas, The Wallpark is the star attraction. A hugely progressive hurdler, he finished third in last season's Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham.

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