UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

DELTA WORK is a high-class recruit to cross country racing and looks the heir apparent to Tiger Roll for connections in this sphere after beating that equine legend at Cheltenham in March. The multiple Grade 1 winning chaser went on to finish a highly creditable third to Noble Yeats in the Randox Grand National. Freewheelin Dylan was well behind the selection when seventh at Aintree and hopefully the former Irish Grand National winner can be reinvigorated by this discipline. Midnight Maestro has the advantage of previous experience over these unique banks and won over C&D in February but disappointed at Cheltenham. Enda Bolger also saddles Champagne Platinum, a useful staying handicap chaser who is sure to be well schooled over the banks.
Prediction : 1st Delta Work 2nd Midnight Maestro 3rd Champagne Platinum

GOOD HEAVENS is a smart recruit from the Flat. The Zoffany gelding easily beat Impero in a mile maiden at Leopardstown last backend and having won again this year at Cork, was just denied by stablemate Federal in the Irish Cambridgeshire. Riding arrangements suggest he is preferred over the owner's Sundial who showed plenty of stamina when winning a Navan maiden for Ballydoyle last month. Impero made a pleasing start over hurdles when runner-up to the Joseph O'Brien-trained Common Practice at Galway with Calico and Gig Harbor not too far behind. Curragh maiden winner Nusret together with Mister Wilson and Morning Soldier are other hurdle newcomers to consider.
Prediction : 1st Good Heavens 2nd Nusret 3rd Impero

MAJAVANGO has taken well to fences this year and after being placed twice at Downpatrick, won in decisive fashion over this trip at Tramore last month. The Tom Gibney-trained gelding was moving up to challenge when falling two out at Naas last weekend and hopefully is none the worse for that experience. Friendly Star won twice over fences in France and made a really promising start for new connections over hurdles at Galway last month. It will be interesting to see how strong he is in the market on this occasion, while there isn't much to choose between Farceur Du Large and It Could Be You on running in a similar event at Galway last month. Fakiera and Dunboyne both stay well over hurdles but have yet to show the same ability over fences and now try handicap company.
Prediction : 1st Majavango 2nd It Could Be You 3rd Fakiera

MINELLA CROONER has always been held in high regard by connections and the point-to-point winner is an exciting recruit to fences. He beat all bar Minella Cocooner in the 2m6f Grade 1 novice hurdle at Leopardstown last season and ran too bad to be true on his only subsequent start here at the Festival meeting. Thedevilscoachman is the pick of these over hurdles having won the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan last term. He reverted back to fences to score at Galway last month but hasn't totally convinced yet with his jumping over the bigger obstacles. Noel Meade also saddles Idas Boy who made a winning start over fences at Cork last month and went close subsequently at the same venue in a Grade 3 behind El Barra with Panda Boy well behind in fourth.
Prediction : 1st Minella Crooner 2nd Idas Boy 3rd Thedevilscoachman

Willie Mullins has dominated this race over the past decade and STATE MAN gets the vote to beat stablemate Sharjah who won this Grade 1 event for the second time 12 months ago. The selection is firmly in the could be anything bracket having justified strong support in decisive fashion despite minimal experience in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. He backed that up over 2m3f here the following month with a smooth Grade 1 success from Flame Bearer. Sharjah has been a tremendous servant for connections winning six Grade 1's plus a Galway Hurdle. He reappears after an 11-month absence but has run well fresh in the past. Saldier is also a former winner of this race plus the Galway Hurdle but lost his way over a variety of trips last winter. Teahupoo won the Red Mills Hurdle in fine style at Gowran earlier this year but was well beaten twice since behind Honeysuckle, while Jesse Evans has a lot on his plate but at least won't lack for fitness.
Prediction : 1st State Man 2nd Sharjah 3rd Teahupoo

SEABANK BISTRO looked a useful sort when scoring on debut at Naas and confirmed that impression when fourth to stablemate Facile Vega in the Cheltenham Festival bumper. He was probably gone over the top when disappointing here subsequently but remains an exciting prospect for hurdles this season. Point-to-point winner Monbeg Park stayed well when landing a bumper in Cork at Easter and again showed stamina is his strong suit when runner-up to Affordale Fury on his hurdle debut over 2m6f at Galway last month. Riding arrangements suggest Will Do, who stayed on well on his only point start last spring, is the pick of Gordon Elliott's three runners while Silver King and Top Speed are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Seabank Bistro 2nd Monbeg Park 3rd Will Do

CAPTAIN CONBY won twice here over 2m4f last season and was thought good enough to go for a Grade 1 novice at Aintree when a faller two out behind Three Stripe Life. The Dusty Sheehy-trained gelding made a pleasing reappearance when second to Eric Bloodaxe at Fairyhouse and appears reasonably treated on his first handicap start with this step up in trip likely to suit. Coventry has been placed on both starts over similar trips since joining Gordon Elliott and should be nearing peak fitness, while others for the shortlist include the Cian Collins-trained pair Robinstown and Sassy Yet Classy. The latter won this race last year for Elliott. It will be interesting to see if there is any market support for Thyestes Chase winner Longhouse Poet on his reappearance.
Prediction : 1st Captain Conby 2nd Coventry 3rd Robinstown

LECKY WATSON divided two stablemates when runner-up on his only start in a valuable sales bumper at Fairyhouse this spring. The selection didn't enjoy the clearest of passages on that occasion and the fourth gives the form some substance having previously won at Thurles. Cato Capone made mistakes at the final two fences when runner-up to Encanto Bruno on his only point-to-point start at Ballynoe in March and was sold for £180,000 at Aintree the following month. That form has been well boosted since by the winner who has won both bumper starts for John McConnell including at Cheltenham last month. The remainder with form have plenty to find so newcomers Bective Bridge and I'm For Home should hold place prospects.
Prediction : 1st Lecky Watson 2nd Cato Capone 3rd Bective Bridge