Steve Ryder is back with three selections for today's action.
13:40 Punchestown
The Enda Bolger trained SHADY OPERATOR (best priced at 9-4) has won both of his starts over the banks and last year’s winner should prove hard to beat again this year. He faces a couple of interesting cross country newcomers in Tout Est Permis and Mitchouka but it would be disappointing if the nine-year-old couldn’t win this again. He beat the enigmatic Blast Of Koeman by 2 ½ lengths easily in this race last year before winning the Risk Of Thunder Chase here last time beating stablemate Midnight Maestro by seven lengths.
Derek O’Connor once again rides Shady Operator in this race and his recent prep run over hurdles should put him spot on for this; I expect him to prove hard to beat.
15:00 Exeter
Stage Star is a worthy favourite for this race having won the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle last time but he could struggle to give PEKING ROSE (best priced at 4-1) 5lbs on this drop back down to 2 miles. The pair have met twice previously with Stage Star finishing 2 ¾ lengths ahead of Peking Rose in a listed Ascot bumper before Peking Rose reversed that form on their next start by finishing 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Stage Star in the Grade 2 Aintree Bumper last season.
Peking Rose finished 3rd on his hurdling debut at Ascot but got off the mark last time at Newbury by an impressive 11 lengths and looks well worth this step up in class. Stage Star has won all of his three starts over hurdles at intermediate trips so this drop back down to 2 miles is a bit of a concern and I think Peking Rose may cause an upset in receipt of weight.
15:10 Punchestown
The Henry De Bromhead trained LARGY DEBUT (best priced at 9-4) upset 1/14 favourite Kilcruit to win on his hurdling debut and although he was disappointed on his next start, he had excuses and can bounce back in this race. The seven-year-old had previously ran well in two bumpers for Stuart Crawford before defying a 631 day break to win at Cork in December. That victory came on soft ground before disappointing on slightly faster ground when too keen in the early stages of the race in the Grade 1 Future Champions Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown.
Largy Debut ended up pulling up that day having bled and connections have decided to fit the gelding with a first-time hood in this race which looks a good move. His reappearance win sets the standard on form and I expect him to prove hard to beat if running up to that level.
