UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

BAL DE RIO represents a yard with a decent record in Flat claimers and he has a solid chance. The 10-year-old won twice over two miles on the Flat for Brian Ellison and has been a good money spinner for Denis Hogan, winning four times over hurdles, including at Ballinrobe last month. Slige Dala won two bumpers and a maiden hurdle for Joseph O'Brien, but has lost his way since and now joins Pat Foley following a spell with Gordon Elliott. No Trouble has won six times on the Flat and also landed a rated novice hurdle at Downpatrick last autumn. Elliott is triple-handed here, with riding arrangements suggesting Ballyquin Bay may be preferred, while Foreign Policy was placed on the all-weather at Dundalk and now makes his hurdling debut.
Prediction : 1st Bal De Rio 2nd No Trouble 3rd Mylestown Upper

BOHER ROAD won a Curragh maiden last autumn and made a bright start over hurdles at Killarney last week. The Jarlath Fahey-trained gelding made much of the running and ran quite freely, but still kept on encouragingly in the closing stages when beating all bar newcomer Custom Of The Sea. Night Sparkle is an obvious threat. He won a 1m6f handicap at Haydock last September for the Crisfords and has been switched to hurdles by current connections this year. The son of Postponed was beaten less than two lengths in a 23-runner Naas maiden and now drops in class after running in a novice here at the Festival. Mister Wilson won three times on the Flat and has been placed on his latest two outings over hurdles in Kilbeggan handicaps.
Prediction : 1st Boher Road 2nd Night Sparkle 3rd Mister Wilson

HORANTZAU D'AIRY won on the Flat in France as a three-year-old and this looks a good opportunity to open his account over hurdles following a list of placed efforts. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding reappeared after a lengthy layoff to fill the runner-up spot twice in maidens and has run well on both outings since in valuable handicaps. Striking was second to Golf Marin in a 21-runner maiden at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting before winning in good style on the Flat at Gowran. Foxfire Glow was an expensive purchase in France but hasn't lived up to expectations in two outings for current connections. Lahinch Three won a Kilbeggan bumper on debut and was placed a couple of times over hurdles, but was soundly beaten when reappearing after an 18-month absence here at the Festival.
Prediction : 1st Horantzau Dairy 2nd Striking 3rd Lahinch Three

NAPPER TANDY won twice on the Flat for Andrew Balding, including off a rating of 84, and was friendless in the market when making a very promising start over hurdles at Clonmel recently. He jumped well when runner-up to the well-backed Evesham Road and should progress as that was his first outing in eight months. There isn't much to choose between The Mediator and Sign From Above, who filled the minor places behind Top Speed in a 19-runner maiden at Down Royal earlier this month. Point-to-point winner Extrapolation won a bumper in good style at Downpatrick recently and is an interesting recruit to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Napper Tandy 2nd The Mediator 3rd Sign From Above

ALPHONSE LE GRANDE won twice on the Flat, including at Dundalk last year for Ray Cody, and caught the eye on his first handicap over hurdles at Thurles in February. The son of Sea The Stars finished strongly from off the pace and market support here would be significant. Skip Mahler was placed on debut in a Kilbeggan bumper and is one for the shortlist after showing improved form over hurdles at Ballinrobe, only weakening in the closing stages when runner-up to Can't Stop Smiling. Indulging looks fairly handicapped reverting to hurdles after a couple of solid efforts on the Flat, while Good Bye Milan won at Wexford about this time last year and now has her first run for Charles Byrnes following a six-month layoff. Mater Matuta is another to consider after a winter break.
Prediction : 1st Alphonse Le Grande 2nd Indulging 3rd Skip Mahler

MAC'S XPRESS indicated ability in maiden hurdles last season and was still in contention when falling at the last at Tipperary last week. That was just his second run in a handicap and hopefully he is none the worse for the tumble. Redwood Queen won at Cartmel last summer for Noel Kelly and has now joined Charles Byrnes after a winter break, while Movie King won on the Polytrack at Dundalk last year and has been placed under both codes since. Future Proof's rating has dropped considerably since early last year and a reproduction of his penultimate start at Thurles would put him in the frame. Lucy Van Pelt won over C&D 12 months ago and should progress from her reappearance here at the Festival, while Star Official is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Macs Xpress 2nd Redwood Queen 3rd Future Proof

HANOI JANE has finished in the money in the majority of her eight starts and appears to have been found a decent opportunity to open her account. The Ted Walsh-trained mare was fourth behind Nine Graces in a race that has worked out particularly well since over 2m6f here in February, and further advertised her claims when placed in a similar event at Ballinrobe earlier this month. Costanuci showed some promise in bumpers and maiden hurdles before running a cracker on her handicap debut over a slightly longer trip here in February, but needs to bounce back after running too badly to be true on softer ground at Tramore. Westernerona made a pleasing reappearance at Clonmel recently, while Loup De Tallane and Kinnegad Lad are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Hanoi Jane 2nd Costanuci 3rd Westernerona

REFLECTIONIST showed improved form on his first start for Gavin Cromwell at Clonmel earlier this month and gets the vote to go one better. The Sea The Stars gelding finished well when second to Rathnaleen Kal over this trip and remains on a lowly mark. Banada Bridge looks an obvious threat, having filled the runner-up spot at Fairyhouse last November, and following a number of runs on winter ground, further advertised her claims when again second to Gaoth Chuil at Leopardstown in March. Hot Shimmer was third in a Limerick maiden last November and the lightly-raced mare now makes her handicap debut. Bella Union and Haveuseentherain are others for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Reflectionist 2nd Banada Bridge 3rd Haveuseentherain