UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

ITSWHATUNITESUS looks the one to beat. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding was a useful sort in bumpers last term and showed the benefit of his hurdling debut at Galway in October when making all at Cork the following month. The selection and Embassy Gardens had the race between them from a long way out, finishing all of 41 lengths clear of the third. Invictus Machin came from well off the pace to score on debut in a Down Royal maiden that has been won in recent years by the likes of Envoi Allen and Mighty Potter. He looks sure to progress with that experience under his belt. Gaelic Arc won twice over hurdles earlier this year and now reverts back after running in a Grade 2 chase last time.
Prediction : 1st Itswhatunitesus 2nd Invictus Machin 3rd Gaelic Arc

BALLYGLASS BEAUTY appreciated the step up to three miles this autumn, winning at Killarney, and has made the frame on all three outings since. The Liam Cusack-trained gelding ran into a very well-handicapped rival when runner-up to Jungle Prose over C&D last time, with Downpatrick winner Journey West not too far off the pace when falling at the penultimate flight. Bodhisattva won a Navan maiden last season and caught the eye when upped to 2m6f on his reappearance at the same venue last month, keeping on into third behind progressive stablemate Jungle Prose, with Rebellious Gale back in fifth. The latter still merits respect on overall form.
Prediction : 1st Ballyglass Beauty 2nd Bodhisattva 3rd Journey West

DEEPLY SUPERFICIAL was bought for 385,000 pounds at Cheltenham 12 months ago, just after winning a Lingstown point-to-point in good style, and remains an exciting prospect having made a successful start under Rules in a Galway maiden hurdle this autumn. This step up in trip looks sure to suit. Bella Scintilla had plenty of placed form in France and made a winning start for present connections at Killarney. She subsequently put up a fine effort at Cheltenham when third to Pied Piper and Knight Salute, and now rates the chief threat back against her own sex. Granny Lowrie won a 2m2f summer mares' hurdle at Kilbeggan and has raced over a variety of trips since, including when runner-up to the selection's stablemate Cool Survivor over three miles here last month.
Prediction : 1st Deeply Superficial 2nd Bella Scintilla 3rd Granny Lowrie

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles and took to fences really well last term, with the only blip coming at the Cheltenham Festival when falling at the last with the Turners Novices' Chase at his mercy. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding easily beat Master McShee twice in top-level events around this trip at Leopardstown and Fairyhouse either side of that unlucky stumble. Fakir D'Oudairies is a high-class rival with four Grade 1 wins to his credit. The seven-year-old is well suited by this trip and was last seen landing the Marsh Chase at Aintree for the second time with a convincing victory over Hitman. Fury Road and French Dynamite will not lack for fitness having already been out this term and the former had Vanillier back in third when successful at Down Royal last month.
Prediction : 1st Galopin Des Champs 2nd Fakir DOudairies 3rd Fury Road

APPRECIATE IT is an exciting recruit to chasing. The point-to-point winner was top-class in bumpers and a star novice hurdler, completing a hat-trick of Grade 1 wins with a runaway success in the Supreme at Cheltenham. He was sidelined for most of last season, with just the one run in the Champion Hurdle, and it will be fascinating to see how he gets on here. Highland Charge progressed over hurdles last term, scoring twice at Naas, including the Grade 3 Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle, while Top Bandit made hay early last season over hurdles, completing a hat-trick on this corresponding card but had his limitations exposed subsequently in handicaps. Limerick Lace made a decent start over fences at Navan, but Gua Du Large needs to brush up his jumping to take a hand.
Prediction : 1st Appreciate It 2nd Highland Charge 3rd Top Bandit

BEATING THE ODDS won twice over hurdles, including at this distance, and ran a cracker off a 1lb higher mark in this race last year when third to Glenquin Castle, despite not enjoying the clearest of passages on the run-in. The selection has been given a similar preparation to last year, with a run under his belt when beating all bar Arctic Ambition at Thurles. Glenquin Castle was amazingly winning for the seventh time in a row in handicaps 12 months ago, but has struggled so far this term. Gavin Cromwell is mob-handed with four runners, with Shantou Lucky and Broken Ice both holding definite chances. Sir Bob signed off last season winning over hurdles, but was let down by his jumping when reappearing at Naas last month. It Could Be You and Ciao Bella are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Beating The Odds 2nd Broken Ice 3rd It Could Be You

BLIZZARD OF OZ made a very promising debut in a Listed bumper at Limerick, splitting the Willie Mullins-trained pair of Impulsive Dream and the long odds-on Mercurey. It's no surprise the son of Arctic Cosmos was subsequently bought out of Lar Byrne's yard to join the champion trainer. Mel Monroe won a Monksgrange point-to-point in good style for Harley Dunne this spring before joining current connections and was just pegged back close home in a Galway bumper. Any Road is another to consider having filled third spot on debut here behind the smart James's Gate. Point-to-point winner Slade Steel and Captain Cody are others to note in what looks an above-average bumper.
Prediction : 1st Blizzard Of Oz 2nd Mel Monroe 3rd Any Road