UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

COKO BEACH should be capable of adding to his record in this discipline if making a quick reappearance, as the Gordon Elliott-trained nine-year-old finished third in the La Touche Cup on Thursday. Given his chase rating of 159, the gelding ought to go well. Foxy Jacks was pulled up in the Grand National last month but had earlier impressed when winning over the cross country course at Cheltenham in November. He is likely to have been aimed at this meeting for some time. Genois finished second here in February and is another to bear in mind.
Prediction : 1st Coko Beach 2nd Foxy Jacks 3rd Genois

Third in this contest last year, HISTORY OF FASHION is a proven stayer who has every chance of going two places better. The Pat Fahy-trained 10-year-old arguably ran a career best when fifth in the Irish Grand National recently. He raced from 2lb out of the handicap on that occasion but can run off his correct mark here. Better ground is also likely to suit the gelding. Klarc Kent obviously appreciated the stamina test when running his best race to date in the Scottish Grand National last month. He has to be a leading contender again for the in-form Mullins/Townend team. The veteran Sir Bob, who has been in great heart of late, can also play a part.
Prediction : 1st History Of Fashion 2nd Klarc Kent 3rd Sir Bob

Cheltenham Mares' Hurdle winner LOSSIEMOUTH is difficult to oppose in her bid to complete the perfect season. Winner of the 4-Y-O Hurdle at this meeting last year, the Willie Mullins-trained mare made a winning reappearance in the Unibet Hurdle in January before following up at the Cheltenham Festival. Barring something unforeseen happening, she can make it three from three this term. Stablemate Ashroe Diamond ran too free before eventually being pulled up in that aforementioned Cheltenham contest, but the seven-year-old rates the biggest threat. Mares' Hurdle runner-up Telmesomethinggirl has a bit to find with Lossiemouth but is capable of running a big race nonetheless.
Prediction : 1st Lossiemouth 2nd Ashroe Diamond 3rd Telmesomethinggirl

Trainer Anthony Honeyball, who targets this meeting every year, has strong claims with the nine-year-old BLACKJACK MAGIC. Having won the Badger Beer Handicap Chase on his reappearance, the gelding has run better than the bare form suggests on three subsequent starts. Best going right-handed, the UK raider has plenty in his favour here. Runner-up in this race 12 months ago, Ballykeel is back for another crack under champion conditional jockey Danny Gilligan. Kept fresh for this assignment, it would be no surprise to see a big performance from the Gordon Elliott-trained gelding. Given the firepower available to Willie Mullins, his representative Glengouly has to be respected.
Prediction : 1st Blackjack Magic 2nd Ballykeel 3rd Glengouly

KARGESE has been beaten by two high-class types when finishing second in both the Triumph Hurdle and when pulling too hard in an Aintree Grade 1 last month, so could take some beating if settling better. She raced three times in France so has vast experience for a juvenile, is ground-versatile and holds six of today's rivals on previous form, including nearest-pursuers at Cheltenham Nurburgring (fourth) and Storm Heart (fifth). All of Bottler'secret's form is on easy ground and while he defeated Karl Des Tourelles by just under four lengths lengths at Fairyhouse over Easter, he is 3lb worse off with that rival today. With that in mind, Karl Des Tourelles could turn tables, as he is less exposed and open to a fraction more progression.
Prediction : 1st Kargese 2nd Karl Des Tourelles 3rd Bottlersecret

OLYMPIC MAN's jumping has been his achilles heel but he could be suited by dropping in distance, having failed to get home over 3m at Fairyhouse. Despite his jumping lacking in fluency, he has smart form and while 6lb higher than at Fairyhouse, that was his handicap debut and he has scope for progress. Waterfordwhispers finished second in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and is also suited by soft ground. He ran with a UK rating of 133 then and runs off 135 here, which is 12lb higher than his mark when finishing second at the Leopardstown meeting during Christmas. The progressive Lucky Zebo is ground-versatile and has place claims, despite being rated 6lb higher than when winning at Cork.
Prediction : 1st Olympic Man 2nd Waterford Whispers 3rd Lucky Zebo

Willie Mullins hasn't won this particular bumper since 2018 but introduces homebred CHART TOPPER, who is a brother to the Grade 1-placed Pink In The Park. It is encouraging that he debuts at this festival and he could be smart. Jacob's Ladder won an Oldtown point-to-point for Peter Buchanan before selling to current connections for 110,000 pounds. That form has already been boosted by the fourth-placed horse winning easily subsequently and he could be the main threat. The Moyglare Stud Farm-bred Passenger has a Flat pedigree so makes a belated debut, but is from an excellent family and warrants respect. He is a rare bumper runner these days for his trainer, who sent out the high-class Forgotten Rules to win on his debut at this meeting in 2014.
Prediction : 1st Chart Topper 2nd Jacobs Ladder 3rd Passenger

To date this charity race has raised over 1.8 million euros for various kidney related projects and this year's renewal includes local Sara Jane Tracy, who is a kidney transplant recipient herself and she rides Jungle Cove. Perhaps OMNISCIENT, under well-known jockeys' agent Garry Cribbin, might prove best in the race, having run well in two recent maiden hurdles and, when trained in the UK, held a Flat rating of 95 last summer. Somptueux and New Year Honours are others to consider closely.
Prediction : 1st Omniscient 2nd Somptueux 3rd New Year Honours