UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

CALICO was beaten into second by a smart sort over C&D at the end of last month and can get her turn. On her penultimate start, she finished runner-up in a Listed juvenile fillies' hurdle at Aintree. Jacovec Cavern catches the eye after making 105,000 guineas at the sales. He won twice on the Flat in Britain including over an extended 1m5f on soft ground at Newbury which bodes well for his hurdling career. Metamorpheus ran a cracker in third when 100/1 for a maiden hurdle at Limerick over Christmas. Mighty Mo Missouri showed improvement to come in fifth at Leopardstown and more could be forthcoming. Almuhit ran respectably in sixth in the same race. He won on the Flat in Britain for John Gosden. Brave Troop won over 1m2f in Navan when last seen in October. It is interesting that connections are sending him over flights now.
Prediction : 1st Calico 2nd Jacovec Cavern 3rd Metamorpheus

BRANDY HARBOUR looks poised for a big run. He fell when held in a Grade B handicap chase at Limerick last month but, prior to that, was in terrific form over hurdles and fences with two victories and two runner-up berths accrued. He is bidding to exploit a hurdle rating a stone lower than his chase mark. He was a dominant 14-length winner over this trip at Limerick in November. Jimmy Mangan has found the key to Capture The Action and her decisive victory in a mares' handicap hurdle at Limerick has been franked by the runner-up. Little Mixup is sure to be popular after handicap hurdle successes in Limerick and at this track. In both races, he has been strong at the business end and clearly relishes testing ground. He is up in class and the handicapper is trying to get to grips with him, but another good run is probable. Ballinlough Gale is worth watching in the market after switching to Gordon Elliott.
Prediction : 1st Brandy Harbour 2nd Capture The Action 3rd Little Mixup

EABHA GRACE is very hard to get away from. She was a decent bumper performer in winning at Thurles and finishing runner-up in Listed class at Sandown. She was placed in her first couple of maiden hurdles at Naas and the form looks strong. The two horses in front of her in November have gone in again with the winner delivering in a Grade 3 novice hurdle. She then clearly caught a tartar when beaten into second on her next start. Viable alternatives are thin on the ground. Parvos is entitled to come on from her unplaced run at Limerick over Christmas, after a long absence, where she made up plenty of ground. She has a close fourth in a Ballinrobe mares' maiden hurdle in the book. Orlock Point was cheaply bought, but is in good hands for her debut and is a full sister to a horse who won three times over hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Eabha Grace 2nd Parvos 3rd Orlock Point

JP McManus' VERDANT PLACE is unexposed and ran well on handicap debut in November. Well-bred, he finished strongly at Punchestown, seems suited by this type of distance and looks better than his current rating. Gavin Cromwell's Ahead Of The Posse won well on handicap debut at Tramore and while 8lb higher, can continue to progress and steps back up in distance. Gringo D'ainay has handicap form but was well held, albeit at a slightly higher grade, at Leopardstown while Gali Flight has good recent form but is an 18-race maiden. Bella Union has useful UK bumper form and while beaten long distances in all his hurdles, stepping in up distance could bring about plenty improvement.
Prediction : 1st Verdant Place 2nd Ahead Of The Posse 3rd Gringo Dainay

This should be straightforward for three-time bumper winner LETSBECLEARABOUTIT. High-class in bumpers, he missed 580 days before returning in November but has smart recent hurdles form and is well suited by staying distances and testing ground. Heyjoe De Kerser was well held by a trail-blazing winner at Fairhouse but nonetheless ran a sound race and beat plenty rivals. One of those was Klarc Kent, which pulled up, and while suited by soft ground, has plenty to prove. Rowdy Romeo has place claims on recent form. A Fortune Out West was a 90,000 pounds purchase following a 2021 course point-to-point win but recent form figures are off-putting.
Prediction : 1st Letsbeclearaboutit 2nd Heyjoe De Kerser 3rd Klarc Kent

WALKING THE WALK is one of three runners with higher chase marks than hurdles' rating. The selection joined Gordon Elliott in October, winning his first race in December and is now rated 14lb higher in chases. Also, the form of his latest hurdle run at Down Royal in November reads very well. Captain Jimmy and Follow The Crowd are, respectively, rated 12lb and 15lb higher over fences and are closely matched on Galway's October chase. Captain Jimmy defeated Follow The Crowd by 3.25 lengths then but is 9lb worse off today. Mahler Appeal has form in similar recent handicaps while Seangoell ran well at Limerick (Aide De Camp was third) but is exposed. Ten-race maiden Dr Val has recent form while Rose Of Kalanise narrowly won a recent mares' maiden point-to-point. Whatdoyouknow, out of his trainer's Irish National winner, debuts in a handicap in first-time cheekpieces.
Prediction : 1st Walking The Walk 2nd Follow The Crowd 3rd Captain Jimmy

BOP BOP BOBBIN ran well in a traditionally smart Christmas bumper. Winner of a point-to-point for Harley Dunne before selling to current connections for 95,000 euros, she confirmed her ability when running a solid race, albeit when well held, at Leopardstown, in a race which could work out well. Why Delilah was a 150,000-euro three-year-old purchase, has plenty of Flat speed in her pedigree and should run well on debut under Jamie Codd. Stage Lady handled testing conditions when running well over Christmas, while Whispering Pines showed promise on debut but is long absent. Visible Attraction was well held at Punchestown, while Broomfield Gale has already had a foal, by Zambezi Sun, and represents a Grade 2-winning trainer.
Prediction : 1st Bop Bop Bobbin 2nd Why Delilah 3rd Stage Lady