UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

SINGING BANJO is a 13 year old, 88-rated chaser but excels over banks and can fend off slightly younger pretenders. Winner of the 2021 La Touche, he showed his well-being when second to classy cross-country chaser Delta Work here in November and ran ok at Cheltenham recently. Last year's winner Midnight Maestro follows the tried-and-tested January 22 prep route but has twice been well beaten by the selection, including in November's race. Hardline won a Grade 1 under today's rider in 2018 and while he retains ability for Open point-to-points, makes his banks' debut. Stealthy Tom was second over course and distance in April but hasn't run since May, which is a concern. Stablemate Everlastingpromise makes his banks' debut and would prefer good ground. Jack Hackett makes his banks' debut while Alpha Male lacks a recent run and is now 12.
Prediction : 1st Singing Banjo 2nd Midnight Maestro 3rd Hardline

INDIANA JONES is a maiden chaser but and has strong claims. He fell in three consecutive chases last season but ran well twice from three runs this term and was beaten by a subsequent Leopardstown Chase and a Grade 2 winner in November. He finished third at this distance last month and previously in a 2020 Grade 2 hurdle. Gallyhill showed promise in in 2021 but has largely disappointed and was reported to have had two subsequent wind operations. He hit form in recent times but was pulled up last month and concedes 4lb. Francin was capable in France and later for Willie Mullins in 2020 but has clearly had problems. He was running well at 150/1 when falling at Naas and while he is a previous distance winner, his best form is in staying races. Politicise needs to improve while Wild Hunt, whose top flat sire fathered Dodging Bullets, debuts over fences.
Prediction : 1st Indiana Jones 2nd Gallyhill 3rd Francin

CHAMPAGNE PLATINUM has poor recent form but was second in last year's renewal. A dour stayer, he finished eighth in April's Irish National, having met trouble in-running and this is likely to have been a target for some time. Diol Ker finished 18 lengths behind the selection in that National and while disappointing on his other extreme-distance run in October's Cork National, that was his reappearance and ran a cracker in Christmas' Paddy Power. Proven stayer Coko Beach, fourth in last year's renewal, returned to form in January's Thyestes, a race he won in 2021. Whatsnottoknow reappeared at Naas and should improve stepping back up in trip, albeit to this extreme distance. Notice To Close and recent winner Angels Dawn are closely matched on a Down Royal meeting in December but both step up in grade. Milan Native has had issues since his 2020 Kim Muir win while Cork National winner Captain Kangaroo and stablemate Stones And Roses were pulled up in the Paddy Power.
Prediction : 1st Champagne Platinum 2nd Diol Ker 3rd Coko Beach

HARMONYA MAKER possibly underperformed in December but otherwise notched wide-margin, smart wins. That course defeat suggests she lacks a gear to be high-class but nonetheless is solid and suited by conditions. Whatcouldhavebeen ran a cracker in a recent Grade 3 and on that form, has the beating of the selection on a line through fifth-placed Saylavee, which defeated the selection in December. However she needs to continue her terrific upward trajectory. Rioga Choice's Down Royal form also ties in with Saylavee and she too is capable, having won her maiden by 17 lengths. Eabha Grace defeated a subsequent handicap winner by 30 lengths here last month but was twice beaten by the selection in bumpers, albeit over two-miles. Shecouldbeanything met her match behind an impressive gelding here last month but drops in grade. Hauturiere is held by Shecouldbeanything while Henning faces a stiffer task than when winning at Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st Harmonya Maker 2nd Whatcouldhavebeen 3rd Rioga Choice

Point-to-point winner SENIOR CHIEF should appreciate going up to two-and-a-half miles on his second outing over timber. The Gentlewave gelding has been placed twice since joining Henry de Bromhead. The bumper in which he chased home Monbeg Park at Cork last season has worked out well and he was just a bit untidy over the last two when losing out to The Four Sixes on his debut over timber at Clonmel in November. With that experience under his belt he looks the one to beat now. Gordon Elliott runs two and Jeepydoff Meel can confirm placings with his stablemate Abbeydale having been ahead of him when the pair were third and fourth to Haxo over course and distance late last month.
Prediction : 1st Senior Chief 2nd Jeepydoff Meel 3rd Abbeydale

BLUEBELL DIVA looks like a progressive sort and stepping up in trip now could bring further improvement. The Walk In The Park mare has won two of her last three and was staying on well to the line when scoring at Gowran last time. She has a feather weight in this with Gavin Brouder taking 5lb off her back. Another mare that could have a big shout is Martha Divine. She bumped into a good one when chasing home Corbetts Cross at Fairyhouse last month and seems well suited by three miles. Verdant Place is another unexposed sort who has to be on the shortlist. He was a good winner here last time over an extended two-and-a-half and could also be open to improvement over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Bluebell Diva 2nd Martha Divine 3rd Verdant Place

BALLYBURN could be another bumper winner for Willie Mullins. He looked smart when winning his sole point-to-point start at Loughanmore in October and there were a few winners who came out of that race subsequently. The runner-up Ossifer Hops was also a promising fourth in a Navan maiden hurdle last weekend. Quantum Storm makes his first start for Gordon Elliott and the Fame And Glory gelding is another interesting recruit from point-to-points having been narrowly denied on his only run 'between the flags'. Irish Panther has already been placed in a bumper, chasing home Fact To File at Leopardstown over Christmas, and he looks like an obvious one for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Ballyburn 2nd Quantum Storm 3rd Irish Panther

SCARAMANGA is fancied to improve following a disappointing spin on the Flat at Naas in November and could be worth taking a chance on. Silvertown and The Very Man are others of interest.
Prediction : 1st Scaramanga 2nd Silvertown 3rd The Very Man