UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

A case can be made for all of these but marginal preference is for VITAL ISLAND, who won the La Touche Cup over this course in April. His most recent effort in France can be forgiven and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form. Enjoy D'allen could prove to be a class above these rivals if taking to this test, while Blast Of Koeman and Singing Banjo are others who could make the frame.
Prediction : 1st Vital Island 2nd Enjoy Dallen 3rd Blast Of Koeman

All eyes will be on TULLYHILL as he makes his eagerly-awaited hurdling debut. Bought for 220,000 pounds at the Cheltenham sale last November, the five-year-old created a deep impression when sauntering to victory at Gowran in March before running a fine race in defeat behind A Dream To Share in the Grade 1 bumper here. He has shown his versatility regarding ground conditions and is expected to make a winning start over timber. Shannon Royale is now tried in cheekpieces following his recent third at Thurles, while Mister Pink is capable of better after his second here last month.
Prediction : 1st Tullyhill 2nd Shannon Royale 3rd Mister Pink

QUEST WITH SPEED was quite taking when opening his account in a maiden hurdle at Limerick on Tuesday. The six-year-old appears to be ahead of the assessor judged on that performance and he may be able to defy a 7lb penalty. Fellow handicap debutant Bob Cigar looks to be on a workable mark after some solid efforts in defeat in the spring and he may give the selection most to think about, ahead of last-time-out course winner Irish Envoy.
Prediction : 1st Quest With Speed 2nd Bob Cigar 3rd Irish Envoy

Anna Bunina would be hard to beat if reproducing the form that saw her finish second in a Grade 1 here in April. That said, her subsequent efforts have not been at that level and preference is for SHECOULDBEANYTHING. Gordon Elliott's mare readily won a Listed handicap at Killarney in August and was far from disgraced when third in an even stronger event at Listowel last time. Others to consider are Rioga Choice and Hispanic Moon.
Prediction : 1st Shecouldbeanything 2nd Anna Bunina 3rd Rioga Choice

IMAGINE wasn't that far off the better novice hurdlers last term and looked made for fences when justifying favouritism in a hot beginners chase at Fairyhouse. Even though he steps up in class, he may not actually meet stronger opposition and can continue his education while making it two from two. Uncle Phil won as he liked at Kilbeggan and Listowel, but a couple of ordinary Wexford displays suggest he may not be entirely reliable. Lucid Dreams, successful in a Gowran handicap off 133 recently, is therefore put forward as the biggest danger.
Prediction : 1st Imagine 2nd Lucid Dreams 3rd Uncle Phil

Gold Cup hero GALOPIN DES CHAMPS sets off on the path back to Cheltenham with him returning to the scene of his impressive display in this contest 12 months ago. The seven-year-old then passed his two major subsequent tests at Leopardstown and Cheltenham before not being at his best when only second to the reopposing Fastorslow here in April. Freshened up since, Willie Mullins' star performer is expected to turn the tables, with the drop back in trip unlikely to cause any issues. Fastorslow gained due compensation for a neck defeat in the Ultima to Grand National winner Corach Rambler with a career-best effort in the Punchestown Gold Cup. He remains open to improvement, but may have to play second fiddle on this occasion. Blue Lord and Asterion Forlonge appeal most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Galopin Des Champs 2nd Fastorslow 3rd Blue Lord

STUZZIKINI handled testing conditions well when scoring by 31 lengths at Clonmel and a 9lb rise appears to be more than fair for Gordon Elliott's gelding. Gabbys Cross (second) and Shadow Rider (third) both ran with a huge amount of credit in a Galway handicap that has already worked out due to the winner going on to claim a good prize at Cheltenham last week. The pair are expected to be in the mix once again, with Jody Ted and Cesarewitch hero The Shunter next best.
Prediction : 1st Stuzzikini 2nd Gabbys Cross 3rd Shadow Rider

The Passing Wife posted a solid fourth on his racecourse debut over hurdles at Cork earlier this month and that experience should stand Gavin Cromwell's gelding in good stead on his bumper bow. However, there are two interesting recruits to this sphere in fellow pointer Prends Garde A Toi, who isn't taken lightly, and SOIR DE GARDE. The latter, a half-brother to five-time Grade 1 winner State Man, ticks plenty of the right boxes and he may have too much class for these rivals.
Prediction : 1st Soir De Garde 2nd Prends Garde A Toi 3rd The Passing Wife