UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Last year's winner HURRICANE DARWIN comes here fresher than a few of his rivals and may be able to repeat the dose. The Westerner gelding has run well on a couple of occasions over fences this year and it's no surprise that he has been aimed at this race again. The mare Three By Two was a good winner here on Tuesday and commands plenty of respect turning out again. Midnight Maestro is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Hurricane Darwin 2nd Three By Two 3rd Midnight Maestro

MY DESIGN has already run well over a marathon trip this season and looks capable of winning a nice prize. The Scorpion mare chased home Malina Girl in the Ulster National at Downpatrick early in the month and is only a couple of pounds higher now. Shane O'Callaghan landed a big pot here on Hereditary Rule here on Wednesday and his 7lb claim leaves My Design on a nice low weight. Willie Mullins is represented by Aione and he commands plenty of respect. The Coastal Path gelding bounced back to form when taking a beginners chase at Cork 20 days ago and better ground may have helped him then. The trip was perhaps on the short side for Mercury Lane when he was a close second at Wexford last time and he is another for the shortlist taking a big jump up in distance.
Prediction : 1st My Design 2nd Aione 3rd Mercury Lane

LOVE ENVOI is the form choice here and can confirm placings with those that finished in behind at Cheltenham. The Westerner mare ran a cracker in the Mares Hurdle when making Honeysuckle work for her fairytale ending and was nicely clear of the pack at the line. She likes to get on with things and the booking of Danny Mullins looks a perfect match. Queens Brook stayed on in third in the Mares Hurdle and has a few lengths to find, along with the fourth, Echoes In Rain, and the fifth, Brandy Love. Echoes In Rain would appear to be the main hope of Willie Mullins' trio so commands utmost respect. She failed to quicken after making up ground from the rear at Cheltenham and a stronger pace may suit better now. She also runs well around here.
Prediction : 1st Love Envoi 2nd Echoes In Rain 3rd Queens Brook

Leinster National winner DIOL KER was a first fence casualty in the Grand National but had previously finished a good second in the Paddy Power last Christmas. He is ground-versatile and stays this distance. Ramillies was pulled up in a Cheltenham Grade 1 but now drops in grade and contests his first handicap while Escaria Ten stays well but was pulled up in at Cheltenham handicap. Champagne Gold was hampered early-on when eventually pulling up at Cheltenham. Darver Star ran well in a lesser race at Wexford while Flegmatik has been running well in similar UK handicaps. Most of Brideswell Lad's form is over middle-distances and while progressive, competes from a career high mark stepping up in grade. Fire Attack jumps left but was a course chase winner last May while Must Be Obeyed pulled up in the Irish National but had previously run well at Navan (beating Percy Warner). Jerandme fell, when disputing the lead, last time and has handicap chase form.
Prediction : 1st Diol Ker 2nd Ramillies 3rd Flegmatik

LOSSIEMOUTH has done little wrong in five hurdle runs and can confirm Triumph Hurdle placings with runner-up Gala Marceau. A debut Auteuil hurdle winner last April, her only defeat came against Gala Marceau at the Dublin Racing Festival when meeting significant trouble in-running but holds an edge having beaten Gala Marceau for a second time, at Cheltenham. Gala Marceau is high-class but needs to improve slightly to win. Enjoy The Dream is improving and won a recent Grade 2. She seems suited by soft ground but has French flat form on good and while the Fairyhouse runner-up was previously well held in the Triumph, Enjoy The Dream is open to further progression. Zarak The Brave is held by the selection on December form and met with a training setback subsequently while Nusret was third in an Aintree Grade 1, finishing behind the Triumph Hurdle third.
Prediction : 1st Lossiemouth 2nd Gala Marceau 3rd Enjoy The Dream

RISK BELLE has smart form in completed handicap and won a similar event recently. Unbeaten in two initial French hurdles, she is 7lb higher than when winning at Fairyhouse (Horantzau D'airy finished third) but might progress further stepping up in trip and remains a fraction unexposed. An Epic Song bumped into a well handicapped winner of the Coral Cup last month but would prefer soft ground. Galore Desassences ran well on his debut for Gavin Cromwell at Fairyhouse (Heia finished seventh) and has winning form on good ground while Green Glory has useful handicap form and should run well from 1lb out of the handicap. Tax For Max finished fifth to the selection at Fairyhouse and finished third here on Tuesday but is better at two miles. Ballyadam ran well in last month's County Hurdle but also steps up in trip while Cheltenham winner Seddon reverts to hurdles, having won in this sphere at Cheltenham in October but is probably a better chaser.
Prediction : 1st Risk Belle 2nd An Epic Song 3rd Galore Desassences

WALK THE WARRIOR's yard does well in bumpers. By Walk In The Park and out of a bumper winner, he is brother to a dual hurdle winner and a half-brother to Grade 2 chase winner Churchstonewarrior and makes an early debut aged four, which is encouraging. Sorrentino has a good, mostly flat, pedigree. A half-brother to four flat winners, his dam is a half-sister to a Group 1 winner but also to smart jumper Mengli Khan and is Patrick Mullins' pick over Barons Revenge. He is out of a bumper winning half-sister to his trainer's Kempes, but debuts in a tongue-tie. Emmet Mullins won the 2021 renewal and runs Full Metal Jacket, which showed ability in a point-to-point and runs in a hood while last year's winner Gavin Cromwell runs Redstone, which held a winning chance when falling at Oldstown and looks capable. Quarry Rocco has changed hands following a Liscarroll point win while Rainbow Trail has been bought by Gigginstown, having been beaten by a subsequent dual bumper-placed winner at Corbeagh House. Solo Flight has points form while Chasing Unicorn's unraced dam is a half-sister to Next Destination. Goldinthemoutains is out of a Listed flat winner and makes a somewhat belated debut but represents leading connections.
Prediction : 1st Walk The Warrior 2nd Sorrentino 3rd Rainbow Trail

JUNGLE COVE and Hell Bent both command plenty of respect for Jessica Harrington, with preference going to the former. Dalton Highway and Stuzzikini appeal most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Jungle Cove 2nd Hell Bent 3rd Dalton Highway