14:10 Punchestown

I’m struggling to look past CIEL DE NEIGE (best price 2/1) at Punchestown on Sunday as he bids to remain unbeaten over fences. He has taken really well to this discipline again winning readily at Navan when last seen in December. He beat a very good yardstick in Busselton by 4 lengths at the line and looks to be improving all the time. He drops back to 2 miles here but that shouldn’t inconvenience him too much and I think this represents a good chance to bring up the hat-trick. He has to give weight away here but certainly looks up to the task. The obvious danger is You Raised Me Up who finished fourth to Ferny Hollow on debut over fences and is only going to improve. I can see the pair pulling clear from the rest with probably Dancing On My Own best of those.
 

16:00 Exeter

The likeable SNOW LEOPARDESS (best price 2/1) can bring up the hat-trick at Exeter on Sunday. She was back to her best running on strongly to win at Bangor on return and showed an attitude to die for winning the Becher by a gutsy nose back in December. She is up 5lb and now off a career high mark but hopefully she can win this en route to the Grand National at Aintree in April. She sets a clear standard and if she gets into a nice rhythm I don’t see anything good enough in here to peg her back. Chilli Filli is very tough and likeable too but I’m certain she lacks the class of the favourite and there isn’t much between them in the betting at the time of writing which does surprise me. Destinee Royale isn’t forgotten with Venetia Williams going so well but has enough to find.