UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

LA MALMASON looks to have plenty of scope. This mare has only had three outings and got off the mark on debut at Cork. She was beaten half a length into second when last seen in a rated novice hurdle over a similar trip at this track in January, and that form got a tremendous boost when the winner took a Grade 3 novice hurdle in Thurles on his next start. Unanswered has experience of big fields and is a major contender. He has been placed on his last two starts and was a notable six-length winner of a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November. He has won at this track before and drying ground will be to his advantage. Liam McKenna's 2lb claim is a bonus. Jessica Harrington's Mighty Mo Missouri could go well off bottom-weight. He is up in trip, but has some decent placed form at Cork, Gowran Park and Naas. Harrington has won two of the last five renewals of this race.
Prediction : 1st La Malmason 2nd Unanswered 3rd Mighty Mo Missouri

SANDOR CLEGANE brings strong Grade 1 form to this contest. Paul Nolan's Fame And Glory gelding ran third in both a novice hurdle at Leopardstown and the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham Festival. Those races were over further, however, this intermediate trip shouldn't be an issue as he has plenty of form over the minimum trip. Three Card Brag finished over four lengths behind Sandor Clegane in fifth at Cheltenham. He has been particularly effective at this sort of trip, though. A neck second to a subsequent Grade 1 winner at Naas before Christmas stands out. Three Card Brag then went on to win a novice hurdle in Fairyhouse by 12 lengths. He comprehensively defeated Sandor Clegane over an extended 2m at Galway in October. That was on deep ground, though, and drying ground wouldn't be ideal for him. Senior Chief is up in class, but has won his last two races. He's in good hands and can get involved.
Prediction : 1st Sandor Clegane 2nd Three Card Brag 3rd Senior Chief

GRANGECLARE WEST can take advantage of a drop in class. He has questions to answer after unplaced efforts at Naas and Leopardstown, however, they were in Grade 1 races. He looked a horse of considerable promise in winning his bumper by a wide margin at this track and then sauntering home in a maiden hurdle at Navan. Imagine wasn't beaten far into fifth in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. Prior to that, he had three runner-up finishes in-a-row including in a Grade 3 novice hurdle at Navan. He is another horse with a bumper and maiden hurdle in his locker. He is a big player with Danny Gilligan taking 7lb off his back. Tag Man has a chance in receipt of weight from his rivals. The seven-year-old gelding has had the misfortune to run in maiden hurdles won by some very smart sorts. He was placed in two of them and came in fourth in another, and the form is strong. He won a bumper at the Punchestown Festival last year on decent ground.
Prediction : 1st Grangeclare West 2nd Imagine 3rd Tag Man

GAELIC WARRIOR has obvious claims for Willie Mullins. The five-year-old gelding is comfortably highest-rated in this field on a mark of 152. He won three consecutive hurdle races culminating in a Grade B handicap hurdle at Leopardstown in February. He then contested the Grade 1 Ballymore at last month's Cheltenham Festival, and did as well as he could in second behind a stablemate who is out of the top drawer. He had several previous Grade 1 winners in behind him. This step up in trip shouldn't pose an issue. Favori De Champdou disappointed in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham when racing keenly. He had landed three staying races before that, including a Grade 2, and could bounce back. Embassy Gardens was pulled up at Cheltenham, but has plenty of ability and shouldn't be disregarded. Affordale Fury ran some race for a 150/1 outsider when runner-up in the Albert Bartlett. He's certainly a factor on that run, but would prefer slower ground.
Prediction : 1st Gaelic Warrior 2nd Favori De Champdou 3rd Embassy Gardens

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is hard to oppose and should end his season on a high. The Timos gelding was a brilliant winner of the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month, powering clear after the last to beat Bravemansgame by seven lengths. The English raider got the go ahead the other day to take his place here, but it's hard to see him turning the tables. Aside from his mishap at Cheltenham last year, Galopin Des Champs hasn't really been seriously challenged since going over fences and looks a class apart. Envoi Allen bounced back to form when landing the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham and stays this trip, having won at Down Royal earlier in the campaign. He's very talented on his day but it would be a bit of a shock if he was able to lower the colours of Galopin Des Champs.
Prediction : 1st Galopin Des Champs 2nd Envoi Allen 3rd Bravemansgame

Willie Mullins has dominated this race in recent years and it's interesting that Patrick Mullins sides with the Gowran winner TULLYHILL. There was plenty of buzz about the Martaline gelding before his racecourse debut last month and he looked very smart when winning without coming off the bridle. The runner-up went on to frank that form and Mullins spoke very highly of the grey afterwards. Obviously on the book A Dream To Share is the one to beat after his Cheltenham success. He was a good winner of the Champion Bumper and had a few of these in behind that day. It wouldn't be a surprise if It's For Me got a bit more involved now. He was held up well off the pace last month before staying on to finish fifth and was reported to have run too freely.
Prediction : 1st Tullyhill 2nd A Dream To Share 3rd Its For Me

Stepping up in trip again should suit HA D'OR and he can make a winning start in handicaps. The French-bred gelding has been keeping good company in novices and wasn't disgraced when fifth in the Arkle at Cheltenham last month. He had been a good winner over this trip on his chase debut at Fairyhouse back in December, beating a decent sort in The Goffer. Lieutenant Command was a good winner of a competitive event at Leopardstown early last month and could be a big player here despite a 6lb rise for that victory. Ilikedwayurthinkin was third in that Leopardstown contest and on revised terms he looks another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Ha DOr 2nd Lieutenant Command 3rd Ilikedwayurthinkin

FUN FUN FUN never got involved in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham last month but gets the vote back against her own sex here. The Martaline mare had been a very impressive winner of a Grade 2 bumper at the Dublin Racing Festival previously and would be hard to beat on that form. Slightly better going now should help. Willie Mullins saddles five in the race and the selection's stablemate Junta Marvel could be a danger. She made a good impression when scoring on her debut at Limerick last month when the front pair pulled nicely clear. Miss Agusta was no match for the impressive Tiger Bay Queen in a listed contest at Fairyhouse but it was still a solid run and she is entitled to be thereabouts again.
Prediction : 1st Fun Fun Fun 2nd Junta Marvel 3rd Miss Agusta