UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

JOYFUL PRINCESS was well enough held on debut at the Curragh but that form is working out well and she should improve from the experience. Out of a Coolmore-bred unplaced dam, whose sister won at Listed level, she missed the break and raced keenly in the early stages. While beaten eight lengths into fifth, the daughter of Starspangledbanner finished reasonably well with the runner-up, the fourth and eighth-placed finishers each winning subsequently. Mint Candy finished a length-and-three-parts ahead of Amangani on their Gowran meeting a fortnight ago and the pair are likely to be closely matched, as the latter was a little short of room on the inner for some of the home straight.
Prediction : 1st Joyful Princess 2nd Mint Candy 3rd Amangani

STORM PIECE has an excellent pedigree and showed good ability on debut. By the sire of Economics and out of a blue-blooded Group 1-winning dam, he contested a newcomers' maiden at the Curragh and while the form is largely unproven, the Ballydoyle-trained winner was well-touted while the eighth-horse subsequently finished runner-up. The selection looks smart and has a notable Beresford Stakes entry. Genealogy himself showed promise on Curragh debut 17 days ago and is entitled to improve plenty from that display, while his stablemate Lord Byron is from a fine Aga Khan family and is a half-brother to a multiple Group 3 winner.
Prediction : 1st Storm Piece 2nd Genealogy 3rd Lord Byron

TRETHORN has been beaten long distances in three maiden runs but has a fine pedigree and showed some promise on his latest run. By Dubawi and out of a well-related Listed-winning dam, the selection finished behind subsequent St Leger winner Jan Brueghel on debut and all of 17 lengths behind last weekend's impressive Petingo Handicap winner Fighter and might improve in first-time cheekpieces from a manageable initial rating. Mooretown Lady has been running consistently well in useful handicaps and is dependable, while Gandolfo has been frustrating to follow but nonetheless was beaten just a short-head over this distance at Gowran a fortnight ago.
Prediction : 1st Trethorn 2nd Mooretown Lad 3rd Gandolfo

STAR HARBOUR might ideally prefer a slightly longer distance but won over today's trip at Tipperary in August and arrives following a career-best effort when second from a rating of 105 at Dundalk. Akecheta's dam is closely related to 2000 Guineas winner Mark Of Esteem and while lightly raced, she has shown useful form. She ran well at Roscommon last time and now has a first-time tongue-tie. Gesture has been gelded since his last run and his best form to date has been achieved on the all-weather.
Prediction : 1st Star Harbour 2nd Akecheta 3rd Our Town

ARD NA MARA was no match for Fighter when second in a Curragh maiden, but had 20 horses behind her and the form got a massive boost on Saturday when the winner followed up at Leopardstown. Vadali has been placed on his last three outings and got closer to the winner with each run. He is one to note up in trip. Conversely, the 82-rated Strolling drops back in trip after being beaten a neck into second at Tramore.
Prediction : 1st Ard Na Mara 2nd Vadali 3rd Strolling

There should be upside in SHAVASI's mark of 76. She was last seen finishing third in a higher grade at Sligo. Prior to that, she shed her maiden tag at Killarney. Counterculture hacked up in a maiden at Roscommon and is one to keep on the right side of. The experienced Sli Na Ghealai is more than capable of landing a blow, while Presence goes to work at the bottom end of the handicap and shouldn't be underestimated.
Prediction : 1st Shavasi 2nd Counterculture 3rd Sli Na Ghealai

There was plenty to like about JARVIS BROOK's stable debut second at Gowran Park. He had been off for more than 16 months and was just pipped on that first start for Paul Nolan. The bounce factor obviously comes into play, but he travelled well at Gowran which bodes well for this assignment. Harseva has shown improvement since entering handicaps and is on a mark she can go well off. Tartaraghan's runner-up effort at Down Royal reads well in the context of this race and she's noted too.
Prediction : 1st Jarvis Brook 2nd Harseva 3rd Tartaraghan

Plenty in with chances in a competitive handicap. LIMESTONE RED ran well for a long way at Cork latest before finishing third and could build on that for Michael Halford and Tracey Collins. Finsceal Annie looks sure to be popular after delivering at Tipperary before just failing by a head to follow up at the same track. Prominent racer Simple Endeavour has finished second on her last couple of outings and ought to be in the mix too.
Prediction : 1st Limestone Red 2nd Finsceal Annie 3rd Simple Endeavour