UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

DIVERGE can improve upon his sixth place at Leopardstown over Christmas. That was his Irish debut, and his first crack at hurdling, after building up plenty of experience on the Flat in France where he won and was placed five times. He holds Grade 1 entries at the Cheltenham Festival. Stellium ran well off the front over C&D in mid-January before finishing second. That was an improved performance and it gives him claims. Tophill Low showed promise in finishing third in Naas. She can have a say. Glenmalure Flyer made her debut in fourth in that race at Naas and will come on from it, but she was 10 lengths adrift of Tophill Low. Mon Coeur was good enough to land a Killarney bumper by 11 lengths last year and should be given a market check ahead of his hurdle debut.
Prediction : 1st Diverge 2nd Stellium 3rd Tophill Low

LUDUS can supplement his victory in Limerick last month. He was strong on the run-in in shedding his maiden tag by two and a quarter lengths. Notably, the horse in third then came out and won very well at this track to earn a possible shot at the Cheltenham Festival, so the form is there. Action Motion got off the mark in Cork and he also had a subsequent maiden hurdle winner behind him in third. Jockey Daniel King's 5lb claim is a bonus. Sundial has his sights lowered after being well beaten by the top-class Lossiemouth in a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse and a Grade 2 in Leopardstown. He should find these waters calmer. Gavin Cromwell is in good form and his Pepsiwithacap could go better than her odds would suggest.
Prediction : 1st Ludus 2nd Action Motion 3rd Sundial

PRINCESS ZOE makes her eagerly-awaited debut over hurdles. She has given connections some incredible days on the Flat including when winning premier handicaps and a Listed race at Galway, and landing the Group 1 Prix du Cadran in France and a Group 3 at Ascot. She holds an entry in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and you would imagine that would be the plan should she show up well here. Since winning a mares' bumper at Listowel on debut, Pink In The Park has been a beaten favourite five times across bumpers and hurdle races. She was Listed-placed in a mares' bumper at Fairyhouse and landed a mares' bumper here so has plenty of talent, but she was beaten 20 lengths into second in a mares' hurdle at the start of the month. Perhaps this new trip will aid her cause. Knockanard Lady, who won a mares' bumper at this track, and the returning Jumping Jet can get in the mix for a cheque.
Prediction : 1st Princess Zoe 2nd Pink In The Park 3rd Knockanard Lady

Willie Mullins' SIR ARGUS could recover Clonmel losses. He ran there in a maiden hurdle over a similar trip and had just grabbed the lead when he made a mistake and fell two out. He has been off since those exertions in December and is sure to have been extensively schooled. Gordon Elliott's Jeepydoff Meel ran third in a maiden hurdle at Thurles and that run looks much better after the winner followed up in a Grade 2 hurdle at Limerick. He is dangerous. His stablemate, Abbeydale, showed marked improvement up in trip on his second start to be pipped by a neck in Wexford. Not much more would be required for him to score. There is surely more to come from Haxo, a stablemate of Sir Argus.
Prediction : 1st Sir Argus 2nd Jeepydoff Meel 3rd Abbeydale

LA MALMASON disappointed here in December but had an excuse. She won at Cork on debut, where the fourth and seventh-placed horses won subsequently, and while disappointing in a course Listed hurdle lost a hind shoe in-running. She could prove equal to today's unofficial 118 perch, if returning to form. Sa Fureur steps up in distance and is a half-brother to two smart stayers. His Limerick form was boosted by the fourth-horse winning subsequently and is a recent course winner, but has top weight. Changing The Rules, out of a half-sister to Moscow Flyer, was disappointing at Christmas and steps back up in distance. Starzov is 6lb higher than when winning at Cork and has form at this distance while progressive Nephin Beg is effectively 16lb higher than when winning in December. Meetingofthewaters was beaten by a high-class winner at Thurles while Time Marches On runs in first-time blinkers.
Prediction : 1st La Malmason 2nd Sa Fureur 3rd Changing The Rules

THEFAITHFULINDIAN is a three-time flat winner whose hurdles form is not as strong, but contests an ordinary race. Well suited by testing ground, her recent hurdles form is consistent and while mildly frustrating, steps up to this distance for the first time which could bring about improvement. Fox Le Bel is wildly frustrating, being a 22-race maiden, but steps back up in distance and should compete. Cafe Del Mar won in Thurles last March but was pulled up on her return while Wee Charlie has contested some smart maiden hurdles and can compete on handicap debut, rated 90. Monoxide ran well in an ordinary chase recently. Second reserve King Ferdinand would be very notable if getting a run.
Prediction : 1st Thefaithfulindian 2nd Fox Le Bel 3rd Cafe Del Mar

ROCHESTOWN is 326-days absent but his best form is useful and debuts in a handicap. He defeated Grade 1-placed Churstonewarrior to win on point-to-point debut before bumping into Blazing Kal and Noble Yeats in a 2020 bumper and while subsequent form was ordinary, contests a winneable race over a favourable distance. Esthers Marvel, beaten 82 lengths by Noble Yeats in October, has recent hurdles form and can be counted upon to run another useful race. Fortunate Lady ran well on handicap debut at Limerick and steps up in distance in first-time cheekpieces while lightly-raced nine year old Two For The Road ran well over this distance in October (the runner-up and fifth notably won subsequently) but is absent since.
Prediction : 1st Rochestown 2nd Esthers Marvel 3rd Fortunate Lady