UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Blue Templar won over this course and distance on Tuesday so must be considered again providing that race hasn't left too much of a mark, while Enda Bolger's other runner, JOSIES ORDERS, was a well-beaten third in the La Touche Cup on Thursday. Though that effort was hardly a huge encouragement, it may be that the four-mile trip was too much to bear and he has won over this C&D recently. Hurricane Darwin is interesting but has been beaten by the selection on the last two occasions they have met, while Ballycasey was a cracking fourth in the cross country at Cheltenham but has struggled on this circuit in the past.
Prediction : 1st Josies Orders 2nd Blue Templar 3rd Ballycasey

Don Poli ran well for a while in the Grand National and perhaps his usual reluctance to race will be tempered by the application of blinkers here, while Wishmoor shaped as though this marathon test would suit here in February, but has put in a couple of lacklustre efforts since. Redhotfillypeppers has been in flying form of late but has stamina to prove, though she may be the pick of Willie Mullins' battalion ahead of Some Neck and C'Est Jersey. Preference, though, is for REGAL ENCORE, who was a creditable seventh in the Grand National, ran well at this Festival three years ago and appears to relish an extreme test.
Prediction : 1st Regal Encore 2nd Redhotfillypeppers 3rd Don Poli

BENIE DES DIEUX had the mares' hurdle at Cheltenham firmly in her grasp when coming down at the last, so this looks an ideal opportunity to swiftly return to winning ways. Willie Mullins runs three of the five runners here, with Cheltenham second and third Stormy Ireland and Good Thyne Tara providing ample support to the selection, while Tintangle ran well in the mares' novice hurdle at Cheltenham and has a squeak. With Discretion needs to improve from a Newton Abbot novice hurdle to Grade One company here, which looks too tough a task.
Prediction : 1st Benie Des Dieux 2nd Stormy Ireland 3rd Good Thyne Tara

Fusil Raffles won a Grade 2 at Kempton in impressive fashion, but the form doesn't look especially strong for that grade and he meets a proven top-level performer in FAKIR D'OUDAIRIES here. Joseph O'Brien ran the juvenile in the Supreme at Cheltenham where he came out with credit after finishing fourth, before pushing the Triumph Hurdle winner Pentland Hills all the way to the line at Aintree last time. Surin was third at Leopardstown last time and could be a factor here, along with fellow filly French Made.
Prediction : 1st Fakir DOudairies 2nd Fusil Raffles 3rd Surin

ACTING LASS struggled when last sighted in February in a Grade 3 handicap at Kempton but had completed a hat-trick in good style before that and is well worth another chance after a break. 1lb higher than when scoring comfortably at Ascot two starts ago and eased in class for this assignment, the son of King's Theatre gets a confident vote ahead of course winners Bellow Mome and Walk To Freedom, who are both on workable marks.
Prediction : 1st Acting Lass 2nd Bellow Mome 3rd Walk To Freedom

Past Triumph Hurdle winner/runner-up Ivanovich Gorbatov and Mr Adjudicator aren't without claims towards the summit of the handicap and must be considered closely, along with the admirable Canardier and Out Of The Loop, who beat this year's Pertemps winner by five and a half lengths when last sighted at Fairyhouse in February last year. LAC KIVU appeals as the unexposed quantity in the race, though, as he represents a yard which can seemingly do no wrong this week and, a winner over C&D on hurdles debut, was impressive when beating his more experienced stable companion Whiskey Sour at Cork recently.
Prediction : 1st Lac Kivu 2nd Out Of The Loop 3rd Canardier

TACTICAL MOVE bumped into the smart David Pipe-trained Eden Du Houx, winner of two bumpers at Plumpton and Ascot, on his sole start in a point-to-point last year and rates the one they all have to beat on that form. Ard Abhainn won her point in March and is a player now debuting under Rules for Gordon Elliott, while Silver Sheen and Chief Of Police are others to keep an eye on.
Prediction : 1st Tactical Move 2nd Ard Abhainn 3rd Silver Sheen

FLAT TO THE MAX will prove popular in this year's renewal on his Navan and Gowran form in this sphere. Also a winner over hurdles at the latter venue, the lightly-raced gelding gets the nod ahead of Castlelyons and Thermistocles.
Prediction : 1st Flat To The Max 2nd Castlelyons 3rd Thermistocles