Ireland takes centre stage once again on Friday, with two Grade 1 races at Leopardstown, while there are three other jumps fixtures taking place across Britain and Ireland.

Leopardstown is of course the highlight, but there are some competitive cards from Limerick, Doncaster and Kelso, as well as an all-weather offering from Southwell.

Amongst our Friday fancies is a Willie Mullins horse with a point to prove in one of the big Grade 1 races at Leopardstown. He was a top novice hurdler and is capable of much better than what we saw from him last time out.

13:45 Leopardstown - Favori De Champdou @ 10/3

A Grade 2 winner last time out, Favori De Champdou has earned his shot at this Grade 1 prize. Gordon Elliott’s charge won by 14 lengths at Punchestown last time out, making a competitive race look easy and should confirm the form with the re-opposing Flooring Porter.

Also useful over hurdles, he won a Grade 2 over just shy of three miles at Limerick last season. The ground was soft to heavy that day and conditions are likely to suit here.

This horse is a dour stayer and will be suited by this race turning into a stiff test of stamina. Ground conditions should be testing enough for that to be the case and his rivals will find it difficult to outstay him.

He showed plenty of class when winning at Punchestown last time and the step up to Grade 1 company looks well and truly warranted. Elliott has won five out of the last 10 renewals of this race and could well win it again.

13:55 Kelso - Young Buster @ 5/4

One southern raider to look out for Kelso is Fergal O’Brien’s Young Buster. He has made a fine start to his chasing career and is unbeaten in two starts over the larger obstacles. The most recent of those came at this track over a furlong further.

That was an impressive performance and he won by a cosy margin of six-and-a-half lengths. The form isn't particularly strong, but he won nicely, despite his jockey briefly losing his irons after the first fence.

O'Brien's charge won a fair race over 2m4f at Warwick on his chase debut in May and that suggests the slight drop in trip won't be an issue.

The handicapper has put him up 9lb for his latest victory, but there should be more to come and he's undoubtedly one to keep on side until his limitations are exposed.

14:20 Leopardstown - Impaire Et Passe @ 7/4

Willie Mullins has three of the four runners in the Matheson Hurdle and second season hurdler Impaire Et Passe could be the one to claim victory.

His performance in the Ballymore at Cheltenham in March was nothing short of awesome, as he made some talented horses look very average. Even the horse that was beaten by over 30 lengths back in eighth has gone on to win a Grade 2 over fences this year.

It’s fair to say that he was disappointing when third on seasonal debut in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse. Mullins’ horses tend to improve plenty for their first runs, however, and much better is expected this time around.

Stablemate State Man is the one to beat in this division, but Impaire Et Passe is the one rival with the potential to upstage him.