UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

MARINE NATIONALE looks to be a horse of considerable potential. He won a bumper on debut at this track in May by a ready three and three quarter lengths and returned in August to run away with another bumper at Killarney by 11 lengths. The form of both races has been franked. After that latest success, trainer Barry Connell commented that he has plenty of jumping done which will stand him in good stead for this starting point. Santonito came in third in a trio of bumpers before holding on by a short head at Navan in March. He is likely to be a player on his first crack at hurdling. His trainer, Gordon Elliott, has won three of the last six renewals of this race. Harel Du Marais, Hisnameis Mrdevitt and Viceregent have all shown enough to be in the hunt for a cheque.
Prediction : 1st Marine Nationale 2nd Santonito 3rd Harel Du Marais

BONARC won in this grade at Kilbeggan in May. Perhaps her unplaced effort in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Killarney two days later was because it came too soon. She is dangerous off a break, particularly as she has won fresh before. On Battle Away's first start for Ross O'Sullivan in Killarney, after an absence of more than 1,000 days, she took the honours over 2m4f with the next four horses home all winning since. She then came from a long way back to win by four lengths in Cork and that contest has thrown up several winners. She is up in class, down in trip, and the handicapper has given her 10lb so there are pitfalls, however, she is in such form she could land the hat-trick. Well Funded didn't feature when fourth at Gowran Park, but that was a Listed mares' hurdle She has claims on her Listowel success. Country Queen was beaten at odds-on in Perth, but knows where the winning post is in Ireland.
Prediction : 1st Bonarc 2nd Battle Away 3rd Well Funded

SKIPPIN COURT showed an aptitude for 2m4f in Listowel and has prospects of following up. That was a higher grade of race and he was driven out to score by a length and three quarters. He will enjoy this better ground. My Immortal is definitely going the right way. He has won two of his last three hurdle races and was runner-up in the other one in Listowel behind Hewick who has gone on to win this year's Galway Plate over fences. My Immortal hasn't been seen since February, but has won off an absence before and appears to be ground versatile. Ebasari is up in trip but is far from out of it. He was placed in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Galway Festival. It was a weak contest that King Kal won at Downpatrick, but he did it very well.
Prediction : 1st Skippin Court 2nd My Immortal 3rd Ebasari

ADAMANTLY CHOSEN made a winning start to his career over fences in Listowel last month. He powered home by eight lengths to earn a crack at this Grade 3. Both trip and ground look ideal for him. As a former winner of the valuable Goffs Land Rover Bumper, he has plenty of pace for this trip. Visionarian has won both races over fences including in a Grade 3 novice chase over a similar trip at Galway. He jumped really well that day and should be a tough opponent. He does have to give Adamantly Chose 7lb under the terms of this race, though. Midnight Run holds a mark of 143, but is a maiden over fences. He has finished runner-up in three of his six outings in this sphere and is capable of having a say. Upping The Anti was disappointing when trying to give weight away in his bid for a hat-trick over fences at Wexford. A better run wouldn't be a surprise. Call Me Lyreen fell at Listowel, but has plenty of form over fences.
Prediction : 1st Adamantly Chosen 2nd Visionarian 3rd Midnight Run

GALVIN is hard to oppose in his bid to make it back to back wins in this race. The eight-year-old made a winning reappearance in the 2021 renewal, before going on to establish himself as one of the leading staying chasers in training. While this race is almost certainly a prep for Down Royal towards the end of the month, he should be ready to do himself justice. Stablemate Run Wild Fred fell on his final two outings last season but had looked a smart novice prior to that. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding is well treated by the conditions of this contest, so should prove a live contender. The third Elliott runner Battleoverdoyen cannot be ruled out given he has race fitness on his side. Although beaten by Politesse at Galway, the nine-year-old comes out better at these revised weights.
Prediction : 1st Galvin 2nd Run Wild Fred 3rd Battleoverdoyen

TEMPTATIONINMILAN can follow up his recent Listowel win for trainer Charles Byrnes. The gelding still had plenty to do turning into the home straight but kept on strongly in a manner that suggested he would be suited to this step up in trip. Having finished second over hurdles on his only start at 3m, the son of Milan has to be worth another try at the distance. Hoke Colburn has dropped back to a mark from which he should be very competitive. The Brian McMahon-trained gelding who has been second on his latest two starts should get his head in front before too long. Touch Of Oscar ran better than his final placing suggests at Listowel, then ran third at Killarney last time. He is another that is running into a bit of form of late.
Prediction : 1st Temptationinmilan 2nd Hoke Colburn 3rd Touch Of Oscar

LIBERTY FLAME should be difficult to beat on his third start. The gelding showed promise on his initial run but was slowly away in a first-time hood latest. However, the manner in which he stayed on to eventually finish third suggests that he has enough ability to win a race of this standard. Phils Choice has plenty of experience having been placed on four of her five starts. A poor run at Kilbeggan is readily forgiven as not every horse takes to that tight track. Fermoyle catches the eye among the newcomers. A half-brother to two winners, he may eventually want further in time but could be competitive if ready at the first time of asking. Brandt is another debutant that has to be respected given his connections.
Prediction : 1st Liberty Flame 2nd Phils Choice 3rd Fermoyle