UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

GRAND JOB ran a cracker on debut when runner-up to Matrika in a Curragh maiden that has worked out particularly well since. The Joseph O'Brien-trained filly disappointed subsequently behind the same rival, although she was also probably on the wrong side, in a messy Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes at the same venue on Irish Derby weekend. She's been given a break and hopefully can recapture that initial promise. Camelot Alexander should progress from her Tipperary debut while Greenfinch is certainly bred in the purple being by Justify out of the Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Misty For Me who has already produced Group 1 winners U S Navy Flag and Roly Poly. Balanda and Rising Sign are other newcomers to note.
Prediction : 1st Grand Job 2nd Greenfinch 3rd Camelot Alexander

OCEAN CONQUEST has put in two solid efforts at the Curragh and can open his account at the third attempt. The son of Time Test cost 200,000 at the Newmarket Breeze Up Sale in May and made a bright start behind Henry Longfellow before only giving best inside the final furlong when fifth to Tamrat over this trip last month. He had Rapid Mission just over a length behind on the latter occasion. Fighter is certainly of interest being a newcomer from Ballydoyle and the Frankel colt out of a Sinndar mare is a three-parts brother to Irish Derby winner Trading Leather. Shamsuddin and Rocking Tree should both progress from debut runs at the Curragh.
Prediction : 1st Ocean Conquest 2nd Rapid Mission 3rd Fighter

PERFECT POISE caught the eye when keeping on behind Mashia in a 20-runner maiden at Naas back in May and the Ger Lyons-trained filly went close on her second handicap start again over this trip at Navan recently when just failing by a nose to Signora Bellissima. She remains on an attractive mark and has scope for further improvement. Morning Approach won over this trip at Leopardstown last summer and, having dropped down to a lower mark, comes here after a couple of solid placed efforts including when beating all bar Celebrating Ethel again at Leopardstown. Church Mountain won over a mile at Killarney in July while Akmaam also advertised his chance over this trip when beaten less than a length at the Curragh last month. One Boss has been a model of consistency this year and is another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Perfect Poise 2nd Morning Approach 3rd Church Mountain

HANNIBAL BARCA has been campaigned at the highest level including behind Westover in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby last year and appears to have found a good opportunity to add to his tally. The son of Zoffany won as a juvenile for Brian Meehan before a creditable fourth to Luxembourg in the Group 1 Vertem Futurity Trophy at Doncaster and landed the Group 3 Gallinule Stakes for current connections over 1m2f at the Curragh last season. He's absent (and been gelded) since soundly beaten on testing ground in the Gladness Stakes at the same venue this spring. Fleetfoot has always been held in good regard by connections and shaped well on his reappearance at Roscommon last week. Jungle Cove won valuable handicaps at Leopardstown and Ascot last year but hasn't reached that level this season, while Migdam ran better than his finishing position would suggest at the Curragh on Sunday.
Prediction : 1st Hannibal Barca 2nd Fleetfoot 3rd Migdam

JACK RED CLOUD made a promising debut over a mile at Leopardstown last month and perhaps can improve enough to open his account here. The selection is by Sioux Nation but there is plenty of stamina on the dam side of the pedigree and he came home well into fourth behind Pivotal Revive. Ultra Fine went close over 1m3f at Killarney and didn't enjoy the clearest of passages at the Curragh last time, while Nakassama was claimed after going close on debut and was again just denied over 1m2f in a Down Royal maiden. Guided also looks well capable of success judged on four outings and is now fitted with cheek pieces, while City Exile and Time To Soar are others to consider in what looks a competitive maiden.
Prediction : 1st Jack Red Cloud 2nd Ultra Fine 3rd Nakassama

ANGELIC APPEAL scored on her first handicap start at the Curragh last month and the form of that 1m2f event has been well advertised since with the second and the fourth both winning handicaps next time out. The well-bred daughter of Siyouni can follow up off a 6lb higher mark. Everylittlestep completed a hat-trick this summer and, despite a combined 21lb hike for that run of success, went close last time in a 19-runner handicap at the Curragh. She's now reunited with champion jockey Colin Keane and is well suited by this trip. Bambeano provided Orla McKenna with her first winner when beating Independent Expert and Machnamh at Gowran Park while Star Galaxy has shown promise in three maiden starts and is an interesting contender on her handicap debut.
Prediction : 1st Angelic Appeal 2nd Everylittlestep 3rd Star Galaxy

FINAL CHECK appreciated the step up to a mile when scoring at Killarney in July and the John O'Donoghue-trained filly continues to progress with each outing. She beat all bar Kampala Beach over this trip at Leopardstown last time and Wesley Joyce now claims a valuable 7lb. She has more scope for improvement than Slieve Bearnagh who dropped down to a basement mark to record a third career win over 1m2f at Navan recently. Jack Kearney's 7lb claim more than compensates the rise incurred for that victory. Alfalfa hails from a yard in good form and went close in the other division of that aforementioned 1m2f Navan handicap. The lightly raced gelding obviously comes here in good form and can progress further.
Prediction : 1st Final Check 2nd Alfalfa 3rd Slieve Bearnagh

POLLANASSA made a promising start for Kevin Coleman last year including over this C&D but struggled after getting an initial handicap mark of 72. That rating has now dropped below 50 and he showed definite spark on a first start for Ray Cody. He didn't enjoy the clearest of passages but was still only beaten about two lengths behind Slieve Bearnagh at Navan and Jack Kearney claims a valuable 7lb. Wrist Art appeared to find this trip a shade too far at Leopardstown but did finish well after meeting some trouble in running when third to Asisaid over a mile at Naas last time and also has a capable 7lb claimer booked. Miss Langmore merits respect following her third over this trip at Tipperary while Nyota should progress from her reappearance at the Curragh last month.
Prediction : 1st Pollanassa 2nd Wrist Art 3rd Miss Langmore