UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Racegoers are in for a treat as the unbeaten A DREAM TO SHARE makes his debut over flights. This son of Muhaarar was a perfect five from five in bumpers including in the Grade 2 at Leopardstown during the Dublin Racing Festival, before landing Grade 1 bumpers at Cheltenham and Punchestown which was mightily impressive. He is very hard to oppose on his first crack at hurdles. Fascile Mode made a good impression when winning on debut in a bumper at Leopardstown over Christmas. He was well behind A Dream To Share in two subsequent contests, but could have a future over hurdles. Qatar Spirit showed more in third at Gowran Park and has the opportunity to pick up more prize money.
Prediction : 1st A Dream To Share 2nd Fascile Mode 3rd Qatar Spirit

FIRST DARE appeals after a comfortable victory in a ladies' handicap hurdle at Navan last month. She's not the biggest horse in the world, so it looks a shrewd move to book 7lb claimer Tom Harney as his claim more than offsets the 6lb rise she got for that Navan success. Former Limerick winner Lovely Reaction ought to be a factor if fully wound up on her return to action. She was a never-nearer third at Limerick when last seen in March. Dame Rapide wasn't at her best in fifth on soft ground at Fairyhouse on Saturday, so the forecast deluge for Wednesday morning is a concern albeit she is a talented mare.
Prediction : 1st First Dare 2nd Lovely Reaction 3rd Dame Rapide

HEREDITARY RULE could be worth chancing off a mark of 114. He is rated 24lb higher over fences and has obviously been keeping good company in that discipline including when winning a Grade A handicap chase at Punchestown in April. He notably won on his last outing over hurdles at Downpatrick in September last year. Moonovercloon fell at the final flight when joined in Listowel, but certainly has prospects on his best form. Gold Speed kept on well to score in another race at Listowel and shouldn't be underestimated off 5lb higher, while Kilbeggan winner Tom McGreevy is up in trip and has his chance. Ms Agartha Yeats would be of interest as a maiden hurdle winner on debut at Wexford, however, she has been off for almost a year which tempers enthusiasm.
Prediction : 1st Hereditary Rule 2nd Moonovercloon 3rd Gold Speed

HERCULE DU SEUIL will be a prohibitive price, but ought to deliver. Willie Mullins' chaser ran up a sequence of four clear-cut victories between May and September including at Grade 3 level on his last couple of starts at Galway and Roscommon. He won at Grade 2 level over hurdles and has really taken to chasing, so there should be plenty more races to be won with him. Mullins landed this race last year with another odds-on shot. Senecia actually beat Hercule Du Seuil at Ballinrobe in May before the latter began his winning run. He fell in a Grade 3 in Tipperary at the start of the month, but wasn't beaten at the time. Lucid Dreams arrives in good humour from a novice hurdle win at Killarney and a debut chasing success at Sligo. Trainer John Ryan thinks a lot of him and he should be in the mix even though he has plenty to find on form with Hercule Du Seuil.
Prediction : 1st Hercule Du Seuil 2nd Senecia 3rd Lucid Dreams

A cracking Grade 3 contest. MINELLA INDO won on seasonal reappearance at the start of his last campaign and could repeat the feat here. The 10-year-old gelding is well versed in Grade 1 staying chases and has a good record coming off a break. Gordon Elliott has taken the last three renewals of this race and fields three horses in his bid to capture it again. His Gold Cup third Conflated is sure to be popular and has bright prospects off top-weight. His stablemate, Delta Work, won the Cross Country Chase at last season's Cheltenham Festival and shouldn't be lacking in stamina. Willie Mullins' Fighter Allen has race fitness on his side from a win at Sligo last month and could be a big price against the returning 'big guns'.
Prediction : 1st Minella Indo 2nd Conflated 3rd Delta Work

HASCOEUR CLERMONT signalled that a win may not be far away when third in Downpatrick. He kept on nicely up the stiff finish to come home just behind the two horses who dead-heated for first place. It is heartening that the horse well behind him in fourth took the honours at Sligo on his next start. He Fitz In could be considered unlucky in a Sligo handicap chase as he fell at the last fence when holding a one-length lead. Prior to that, he delivered over flights in Navan so he has certainly struck form and merits plenty of respect. Likable Chancer has filled the runner-up berth in staying races at Listowel and Killarney, so has a decent chance off a light weight. Movie King was scratched from Downpatrick last Friday because of soft ground and the forecast rain wouldn't be to his liking.
Prediction : 1st Hascoeur Clermont 2nd He Fitz In 3rd Likable Chancer

MY GREAT MATE travelled well to win on testing ground at Galway which will stand him in good stead for this assignment. The horse he beat into second came out and took a Fairyhouse bumper last Saturday. This grey gelding is a half-brother to a Grade 1 winning hurdler and should have a bright future. Fleur In The Park rewarded plenty of support on debut at Roscommon last month and looks a nice prospect. He went off favourite and stuck to his task well to get up in the closing stages. Jockey Adam Ryan's 7lb claim is a bonus in bumpers. Beauforts Storm won a Cork bumper in July, but probably wasn't at her best when beaten into fourth when last seen in Down Royal. She has a part to play, though.
Prediction : 1st My Great Mate 2nd Fleur In The Park 3rd Beauforts Storm