Sunday Racing Tips from Steve Ryder

Connections of ENCANO BRUNO (best priced at 3/1) have pulled him out of both the Cheltenham and Punchestown festivals on soft and heavy ground and their patience will hopefully be rewarded in this race. The Gavin Cromwell trained six-year-old was an impressive winner on his stable debut at Cheltenham on his reappearance which took his record with good in the description to 1111P1 with his only disappointment coming on his final start for John McConnell when getting very tired at Galway. 
I expect Encanto Bruno to prove better than a mark of 139 and he should prove hard to beat in this weaker contest. 
 

This looks a weaker renewal than last year when POWER UNDER ME (best priced at 3/1) recorded the only group success of his career to date. The three-time listed winner defied odds of 9/1 to win this race last season under Colin Keane but is a shorter price this year following a much more encouraging run on his reappearance when 2nd by ½ length in the listed Heritage Stakes over this course and distance. 
The Ger Lyons trained six-year-old is probably better suited to softer ground but he still looks the most likely winner of race.
 

The top weight STEALTHY TOM (best priced at 7/1) has won at this Killarney meeting for the past two seasons and should hold strong claims in this race with a similar preparation. The Enda Bolger trained nine-year-old has form figures of B1111 at the track with him being sent off favourite on all five occasions. 
Last season Stealthy Tom was beaten after a break in no headgear before showing improved form on his second start in cheekpieces and connections have done the same preparation again this year. His previous victory at this track came by 10 lengths off a mark of 129 so this mark of 140 will prove more difficult but he looks worth taking a chance on with his record at this meeting.