Our resident pundit has five bets from Punchestown this afternoon.
12.25 Punchestown
KALOPSIA (best price 7-1) really came of age when beating a small, but select field at Thurles last time out, and she is fancied to keep her upwardly mobile curve going in the right direction. A winner previously at Galway – albeit fortuitously – Joseph O’Brien’s inmate benefitted greatly from the strong pace set by Monbeg Dude at the Co Tipperary venue and staying powerfully in the latter stages, she readily pulled clear of her field on the run-in. As there should be a decent gallop on here courtesy of Lion In His Heart in the line-up, the race should set up nicely for the daughter of Flemensfirth’s run-style and providing all eight stand their ground, she makes plenty of appeal from an each-way stance.
2.00 Punchestown
In a race which epitomises the current National Hunt scene in Ireland – Willie Mullins against the Gigginstown operation – the latter powerhouse is taken to get the better of the argument on this occasion in the shape of SUB LIEUTENANT and OUTLANDER. The former is improving at a rapid rate of knots on the evidence of his first two starts for Henry De Bromhead and in beating the latter in the Grade 2 Belfast Chase at Down Royal last time out, he signalled he’s clearly ready to take on the very best chasers around. In a dominate performance, the son of Brian Boru just had too much all-round speed for his old rival on the prevailing conditions and with most of his best form coming on a right-handed track, he looks set fair to put up a bold show. Although Outlander looks up against it on the basis of the Down Royal form with the main selection, slightly softer underfoot conditions give him a punchers chance of turning the tables. In totally control when unluckily crashing out at the last on his most recent start at Clonmel, hopefully his confidence isn’t affected too much as he has all the qualities to run a big race on the pick of his best form with conditions to suit.
2.35 Punchestown
With the much-needed victory of Our Duke at Navan yesterday, confidence, to a certain degree, is restored with the Jessica Harrington camp, and with that in mind, WOODLAND OPERA (best price 9-2) has every chance of providing the Co Kildare handler with another high-profile winner of a beginners’ chase. A smart novice hurdler last season, his most notable success came when he beat Coney Island in red-hot maiden contest over today’s course and although he failed to justify entries in two Graded races thereafter, he did round off the campaign with a victory over a useful field in a conditions event at the Punchestown Festival. Sent off a well-fancied 3-1 second favourite on chase debut at Fairyhouse, the son of Robin Des Champs went well enough until patently blowing up between the last two fences, but as the time figure and form looks so good (Coney Island won the Grade 1 Drinmore since), it makes sense to follow those that were very competitive against the easy winner, Haymount, that afternoon.
3.05 Punchestown
SONNY B (NAP) (best price 4-1) has always left the impression there’s a decent race in him one day and over a track where he’s put in some of his best performances, he’s fancied to shake up one or two more illustrious names. On his latest outing at the Co Kildare venue, John Walsh’s charge ran really well to finish a close-up third behind Rogue Trader in an ultra-competitive heat over 2m 6f and if it wasn’t for him being hampered at a crucial stage at the third last when the front-running Vinnie Luck fell right in front of him, there’s no doubt he would have finished a good deal closer. The solid nature of the form was confirmed when seventh placed horse, Oscar Knight, scored at Navan yesterday, and now stepping back up to his optimum trip, this smooth-travelling performer looks primed to go well with a blemish-free round.
