UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

SHECOULDBEANYTHING is a speculative pick to overturn Impaire Et Passe. Unbeaten at a lower level, she won well during Christmas and while that form is nothing special, gave 13lb to the runner-up and dropping in distance on testing ground shouldn't inconvenience. Willie Mullins has won this race with Mikael D'Haguenet, Vautour and Douvan and his Impaire Et Passe could be anything. A French bumper winner, he won by 18 lengths over 2m3f at Naas but a small concern is the runner-up was unraced and the third and fourth-placed horses are exposed types. The Model Kingdom is smart and while she failed to concede 4lb at Thurles, is better judged by her Down Royal Grade 3-placing, with the fifth-horse subsequently winning at Listed level. Hey Johnny is probably better than 110 but disappointed at Gowran while stablemate C'est Rien is held by The Model Kingdom on Tipperary form, receiving 15lb, and will be chasing blacktype.
Prediction : 1st Shecouldbeanything 2nd Impaire Et Passe 3rd The Model Kingdom

TACTICAL MOVE might defy a 1,158-day layoff and win. Out of a half-sister to Denman, he had a gap year following his point-to-point debut, returned to defeat capable Idas Boy at Clonmel in November 2019 but then missed two seasons. However it is encouraging leading connections are persevering. Lets Go Champ, a brother to Scarlet And Dove, himself hasn't been seen since selling for 375,000 pounds in May 2019, having won a point-to-point 10 days earlier. He defeated a subsequent 140-rated chaser chaser in his point and is also retained by leading connections. Do Whatever, a half-brother to Bellshill, is J.P. McManus' second runner for Jim Dreaper while Star Harbour, rated 94 on the flat, has jumping experience but would prefer good ground. Clodders Dream was well held on debut while stablemate Ideal Vert ran well in a point-to-point but was soundly beaten in November. Flat sprinter Ivasecret debuts over jumps.
Prediction : 1st Tactical Move 2nd Lets Go Champ 3rd Do Whatever

SUNCHART is a smart jumping recruit and will be well schooled. His only flat win was in 2019 but has competed at stakes level, will be suited by national hunt distances and his Finale Stakes runner-up placing, on heavy ground, in November was good. Belle The Lioness has recent hurdles form and finished second at Listed level in December. She is suited by conditions and should run another solid race. Bialystok was bought by current connections for 160,000 in October 2021 having won three races in the south of France, and while most of his form is on a sound surface, is by Zoffany and once finished second on 'very soft'. He also finished a smart second on his only Parisienne run, at Saint-Cloud in September 2021. Sa Fureur ran well over Christmas but faces a tougher task.
Prediction : 1st Sunchart 2nd Belle The Lioness 3rd Bialystok

LIZLUCKY was well beaten in a smart Listed race recently but is suited by this distance, testing ground and her rider claims 5lb. She finished 24 lengths behind third-placed Harmonya Maker at Punchestown but that smart rival won her next start by 20 lengths and Lizlucky's 103 rating has been left unchanged. Carrig Carol has run well in defeat in two recent runs (quirky Vera Verto was behind her at Limerick) and also has claims, being suited by race conditions. Light Parade has a light weight, has recent form in big-field handicaps and while also suited by conditions, steps up to a higher-grade handicap. Karen's Gift has recent form but is exposed while Birdie Blitz, a dual-winner from 16 starts, runs in first-time cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Lizlucky 2nd Carrig Carol 3rd Light Parade

HA D'OR was impressive on his chase debut at Fairyhouse just before Christmas and this looks a nice stepping stone for the French-bred. He had some very good form over timber last season, including when just pipped in a Grade 2 contest, and looked like he could be even better over fences with a fine display of jumping last time. Journey With Me always looked the type to come into his own over fences and was a good winner at Naas last time, despite a mistake at the last. He flashed early on over timber and could make up into a smart chaser. Minella Crooner has already had a couple of hard races over fences this season. He was just denied in Grade 2 company on his chase debut here before scoring by a short-head to I Am Maximus at Fairyhouse. That form has taken a knock since. The mare Impervious is another obvious one for the shortlist, having impressed in both her chase starts, but carrying a penalty now against geldings looks a tougher task.
Prediction : 1st Ha DOr 2nd Journey With Me 3rd Impervious

SALMANINO has already been runner-up twice over fences and can make it third time lucky here. The Kapgarde gelding has run in races open to horses in a slightly higher bracket on his two chase runs to date and hasn't done much wrong with solid efforts. This looks like a nice opportunity for him now. Trainer Liz Doyle looks to have a strong hand with Old Soul also making his chase debut. The Montmartre gelding won over hurdles here last month and this is a nice starting point over fences. Round The Buoy is an interesting one on his chase debut. He won a couple of handicap hurdles in fine style early last year before being pulled up at Leopardstown. The testing ground would be a slight concern.
Prediction : 1st Salmanino 2nd Old Soul 3rd Round The Buoy

BALKITO weakened at the business end on his return over hurdles here in October but looks a better chaser and may be able to pick up the winning thread again. The Balko gelding won twice over fences in February and March last year and looked progressive then. Jack Hendrick got a good tune out of him for the first of those two victories and his 7lb claim is a big asset. Fakiera tops the weights for Gordon Elliott and Jamie Codd takes the mount. The eight-year-old has been knocking on the door and remains on the same mark as when fourth here on New Year's Eve. Notice To Close was all out close home when winning here at the New Year's Eve meeting but commands respect despite a 5lb rise for that short-head victory.
Prediction : 1st Balkito 2nd Fakiera 3rd Notice To Close

MADE IN THE WOODS looks capable of landing a race of this standard. A faller on his handicap debut he ran a solid race to chase home easy winner Difficult Decision at Limerick over Christmas and that ability to handle testing conditions looks a big plus here. Earths Furies ran well when chasing home Young Dev at Limerick and he is another that has to be on the shortlist in this company. Highstreetfashion comes here on a hat-trick and is still only rated 81. He commands respect again but this might be a bit more competitive. Bite That didn't run too badly when third in a beginners chase at Tramore a fortnight ago and he doesn't look on a bad mark here but previous comments that he wants fast ground would be a concern.
Prediction : 1st Made In The Woods 2nd Earths Furies 3rd Bite That