15:10 Punchestown

Some promising types on show in this listed hurdle for novices with a wide-open feel to it, but there is a case to be made that AU FLEURON (NAP) (best price 4-1) has one of the strongest form lines coming into the contest and for that reason, he rates the value call at the morning odds.

A winner over of a maiden hurdle over subsequent scorer Ha D’Or at Navan reads well for starters, and then if you take into account his performance in defeat over the same C&D last time out, he looks to be a novice going places. Although Gordon Elliott’s gelding couldn’t quite match the winner’s turn of foot on the run-in, he did keep on valiantly for second and with the time figure extremely good for the grade, it’s become no surprise to see the form work out well since. Both the well-beaten fourth and fifth have finished runner-up in their next races respectively and with today’s galloping track set to suit this future chasing type, the son of Crillon can take his stiffest task so far to date in his stride.

14:00 Sunday

Liverpool were slightly more functional than flashy in the midweek win over Leicester, nevertheless, it was a welcome clean sheet for the Reds. 

Jurgen Klopp saw his troops once again win the xG battle comfortably and they’ll head to Turf Moor in good spirits. Klopp has plenty of options available to him at this moment with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane back from AFCON, the arrival of Luis Diaz from Porto as well as the return from injury for Harvey Elliott. 

The visitors will be well aware that they have a crunch Champions League tie in Milan on Wednesday so it may be a case of get in front and try see the game out against this fairly limited Burnley side.

The Clarets are proving tougher to beat of late though, draws against Arsenal and Manchester United are highly commendable but the home stalemate with Watford was a very disappointing showing. Even the deepest and strongest defences struggle to keep this Liverpool side out but if Sean Dyche’s side are one thing it is competitive. 

Therefore it may be a touch risky taking Liverpool on the handicaps, instead, I’ll take the 6/5 about the away win and under 3.5 goals. There’s no real need for the visitors to go hell for leather and perhaps energy conservation will come into the thinking in the second half.