14.35 Punchestown

The feature of the race won by RUSSIAN ROULETTE (best price 6-1) at Fairyhouse 12 days ago was the very strong pace throughout and that resulted in Charles O’Brien’s inmate clocking a pretty smart speed figure for the grade. Indeed, not only was his overall time useful, the final circuit was run 3.4 seconds faster than the top-class mare Fayongah, who took the novice hurdle on the same card an hour earlier, so they clearly were trapped along at a fair tempo. Staying on best of all having looked in trouble off the home turn, the son of Peintre Celebre backed up several previous solid placed efforts, and although conditions at the Co Meath venue are likely to be a good deal more testing due to the adverse weather this afternoon, the fact he did manage to cope with heavy ground pretty well at Navan last season at least offers a crumb of comfort on that score. Although beaten on merit by Russian Roulette on the day, YOUNGNEDOFTHEHILL (best price 17-2) did more than enough to suggest he shouldn’t be totally left out of calculations here and he’s worth a small saver just in case the wheels fall off the main selection. Given far too much to do at Galway the time before, Shane Nolan’s charge was once again set a pretty still task at the Meath track, but answering well to the call, he kept on willingly enough to grab the runner-up spot late on. Likely to be ridden in a similar fashion here today, expect the son of King’s Theatre to be a factor in the final half mile.

Russian Roulette - 1pt e/w @ 6/1
Youngendofthehill - 0.5pts e/w @ 17/2

15.10 Punchestown

BENKEI (best price 15-2) can be a little bit of a hit and miss character but as he proved at Roscommon when last seen over hurdles, he can be pretty deadly on a going day. Well handicapped going into that race 45 days ago, Harry Roger’s seven-year-old duly made short work of his opposition and with one of his main attributes being his ability to travel well on testing ground, conditions this afternoon should be ideal for him to pop away before being asked for maximum effort late on.
Benkei - 0.5pts e/w @ 15/2

17.00 Uttoxeter

Easy first-time-out blinkered winners are useful best treated with caution next time out, but such was the ease which BAMBI DU NOYER (NAP) (Best price 6-4) scored last week at Exeter, it’s difficult to ignore the claims of David Pipe’s inmate on his repeat bid. Held up out the back door, the son of Sageburg really appreciated the solid fractions set by Benbecula and once he eased to the front going well approaching the second last, the race was over without the twinkling of an eye. Not only visually impressive, the six-year-old posted an overall speed figure way better than anything else on the card and off a similar mark here this afternoon, he really ought to go in again against a field, by and large, of exposed low-grade handicappers.
Bambi Du Noyer - 2pts @ 6/4