UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

KARBAU, a wide-margin winner of a French bumper, is entitled to come on from his fourth place on hurdling debut at Naas last month. He holds a couple of possible engagements at the Cheltenham Festival for Willie Mullins. Sticwiththeprocess outran his odds when fifth at Naas and can build upon that. Mullins also saddles Zillow, who was fifth at Punchestown and fourth at Leopardstown. Further progress could be on the cards. Paul Collins was found to be lame when he was a beaten favourite in fourth at Thurles in November so he is not out of it, while Henry de Bromhead's newcomer Adaliz is one for a market check.
Prediction : 1st Karbau 2nd Sticwiththeprocess 3rd Zillow

OUT FOR A STROLL made the breakthrough at Limerick and has a shot at following up in receipt of plenty of weight from Total Look. Joseph O'Brien's Churchill filly travelled well in the first-time cheekpieces to score at Limerick and the runner-up franked the form on his next start. Total Look has to shoulder top weight after a close third at Cheltenham. The form of his Navan victory is working out well and he is a significant threat. Slurricane is a consistent sort who should be in there pitching for prize money. He was a place ahead of Out For A Stroll when they were third and fourth respectively in Punchestown in November.
Prediction : 1st Out For A Stroll 2nd Total Look 3rd Slurricane

This contest features a very interesting clash between Familiar Dreams and MAUGHREEN. Familiar Dreams cut a swathe through bumpers when handled by Anthony McCann and her winning spree culminated in a Grade 3 success at the Punchestown Festival. She makes her hurdling debut for Gordon Elliott and is a very talented mare. Slight preference is for Maughreen, who represents Willie Mullins. She was impressive on bumper debut at this track just over a year ago when powering 11 lengths clear of her rivals. She met with a minor setback last season, but was the subject of a favourable report in a stable tour. Clody Diamond's point-to-point victory is working out nicely ahead of her track debut.
Prediction : 1st Maughreen 2nd Familiar Dreams 3rd Clody Diamond

PORT JOULAIN won a point-to-point and a Gowran bumper on testing ground and, having suffered an overreach when disappointing here on his hurdle debut, advertised his claims when third to The Enabler in a 2m4f Leopardstown maiden. The selection had Bossofthebrownies about two lengths behind in fourth on that occasion and may now have most to fear from Sermandzarak. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding won the valuable Goffs Defender Bumper at the Festival here last April and made a pleasing start over hurdles when narrowly denied by Butch Cassidy over C&D. He was found to be coughing when disappointing subsequently at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting.
Prediction : 1st Port Joulain 2nd Sermandzarak 3rd Bossofthebrownies

The Gavin Cromwell-trained MYWAYOFTHINKIN and Fenway Park both need to bounce back after disappointing last time and preference is for the former. The well-bred son of Flemensfirth showed promise in bumpers before winning a 2m maiden when switched to hurdles here last spring and was found to be lame after pulling up on his reappearance in a Grade 3 at Navan. Fenway Park also won a maiden hurdle here last May but was let down by his jumping last month at Leopardstown. Bayrann gained reward for his consistency when taking a 2m Thurles maiden just before Christmas, while Goraibhmaithagat also won a Navan maiden over 2m and has plenty of scope for improvement.
Prediction : 1st Mywayofthinkin 2nd Fenway Park 3rd Bayrann

BRIDIE'S BEAU was placed on both bumper starts for Paul Nicholls and kept on into fifth on his first handicap outing at Limerick last month. That 2m event has thrown up a couple of subsequent winners and the selection is bred to appreciate this longer trip. Silas Marner has yet to score in 16 career starts but did give some encouragement when fourth to Duffys Hodey in a similar 2m4f Fairyhouse handicap earlier this month, while Klassman was placed a number of times in November before going off favourite when unseating rider three out here on New Year's Eve. Mighty Soldier, Mywayorthehighway and Dolly Watkins are others to consider.
Prediction : 1st Bridies Beau 2nd Silas Marner 3rd Klassman

COMEONARCHIE filled the runner-up spot on his last two starts here over similar trips and can go one better. The selection has appreciated stepping up to staying distances in handicaps including when beating all bar Sammy Smart over just short of 3m. Point-to-point winner Master Of The Sums caught the eye when keeping on into third in a 2m3f Limerick maiden last month and any market move would be interesting on his handicap debut. Stellar Symphony has won twice at around 3m and still looks on a competitive mark, while Westernersunrise is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Comeonarchie 2nd Master Of The Sums 3rd Westernersunrise