Punchestown enjoys the first big jackpot carry-over of the new year, but while the pool kicks off with almost £40,000 on hand, it would still seem like millennium madness to lay out £5,082 on an all-runners entry.

To be sure of a profit in this case you would have needed to see in your crystal ball a set of results of the calibre of The Glow-Worm, The Holy Parson, The Cree River and The Scrub, none of which make any real appeal.

A more predictable success would be a win for Hot Shots in the first leg, the Watch House Maiden Hurdle. He carries the Cox colours, long associated with racing in Co Kildare, and was third in a decent maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse won by Hobart Frisbey.

Earlier in the afternoon, the team of Arthur Moore and Conor O'Dwyer may profit from Glenelly Gale's 8lb allowance from Cardinal Mark.

Section Seven, out of luck in two successive runnings of the Conyngham Cup, Punchestown's oldest race, carries top weight in the Carrick Hill Handicap Hurdle. He was fourth to Florida Light at Leopardstown over Christmas and is napped to win in the hands of Liam Fleming.

Francis Bay, already a winner on the flat and over hurdles, will soon make his mark as a chaser, to judge by his safe jumping behind Native Upmanship in the Dennys at Leopardstown.

Shiny Bay, who drops back in distance, can keep his jackpot follower's hopes alive in the Fairyland Handicap Hurdle, while after an enticing Leopardstown debut Lord Edwards Army can sweep the opposition clean out of the way in the bumper.

Take Mystery Guest to surprise his rivals in the Tote Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle at Catterick today. This is a competitive-looking 15-runner contest but the overall level of his form gives Mystery Guest a very solid chance.

Pam Sly's five-year-old got off the mark in good style at Fakenham in October when he hacked up by eight lengths from Ma Barnicle. He followed that effort with his best run to date when he finished a four-and-a-half-length fourth of 10 to Experimental in a decent novices' handicap at Cheltenham the following month.

One length in front of the selection that day was Afrostar, who has given the form a boost by landing a good-class novice event at Kempton over Christmas.