Steve Ryder is back with Three tips for todays action at Punchestown and Ffos Las.
12:30 Punchestown
Embassy Gardens and Cool Survivor (best priced at 6/4) were both rated 140 over hurdles at the end of last season but the latter is preferred with the advantage of two runs over fences and the benefit of race-fitness. The Gordon Elliott trained six-year-old disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival but was still travelling well when falling at the 3rd last in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on his final start last season.
He was only beaten a neck by Quilixios on his chasing debut at Limerick in October before finishing 4th behind Gaelic Warrior at Punchestown last time when looking outpaced over 2m3f.
Cool Survivor won a listed novice hurdle at Cork over 3 miles on heavy ground last season so he should relish this step back up in trip and I will be disappointed if he couldn’t beat Embassy Gardens who runs for the first time in 230 days.
Punchestown
Despite being rated 6lbs inferior to Banntown Girl and having to race off level weights, I think Mel Monroe (best priced at 11/4) is the one to beat in this mares’ listed novice hurdle. The Gordon Elliott trained five-year-old won a maiden hurdle by 13 lengths in June before finishing 2nd behind Encanto Bruno at Cheltenham in October. She was beaten by stablemate Croke Park in the Grade 3 Monksfield Novice
Hurdle at Navan last time but a further two lengths back in third that day was Search For Glory.
Search For Glory won a Grade 3 Novice Hurdle at Cork on Sunday by three lengths to boost the form of that run so Mel Monroe should probably be rated higher than 126 as a result. Jack Kennedy takes over on board and she should prove hard to beat in this race.
15:22 Ffos Las
James Jet won on his first start after a wind operation last time but a 9lb rise for a head victory seems harsh and I prefer the chances of Boston Joe (best priced at 11/4). The Rebecca Curtis trained seven-year-old was an impressive 9 ½ length winner at Wincanton on his reappearance off a mark of 89 and he was only beaten 1 ¼ lengths last time here off a mark of 97.
The handicapper has raised Boston Joe 3lbs for that effort which is fair as they pulled 19 lengths clear of the third and he should prove hard to beat if coping with the extra 2f in this race.
