UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

WATERFORD WHISPERS was well beaten in a Christmas Grade 1 on his latest start but is capable on his day and finished runner-up in Cheltenham's Martin Pipe Hurdle last March. The selection ran well on his chase debut in December, he was eased when beaten at Limerick last time and is capable of much better. Springt De La Mare has a hurdles rating of only 118 and while a winner on chase debut last month, it is a concern that a first-time tongue-tie is applied. Release The Beast has winning chase form but might find the selection too strong. Rath Gaul Boy was hampered when last seen here and now debuts over fences against more experienced rivals.
Prediction : 1st Waterford Whispers 2nd Springt De La Mare 3rd Release The Beast

HIGH CLASS HERO performed to a high level over hurdles and ran well on his chase debut here in December. Generally consistent, he was too keen when pulling up at Cheltenham in March but returned to finish second in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. He holds stablemate Loughglynn by 10 lengths on his last run and he can build on that promising introduction to fences. Mint Boy was unsuited by the shorter distance over hurdles at Leopardstown over Christmas but is rated 134 in this sphere, having shown better form at Galway in October. He stays well but might struggle to beat the selection. Chigorin was well held at Gowran but should also benefit from returning to this longer trip.
Prediction : 1st High Class Hero 2nd Mint Boy 3rd Loughglynn

January's Thyestes Chase form is very much tested here but a chance is taken with KINGS HALO, who remains somewhat unexposed over extreme staying distances. The selection won a Naas chase by 18 lengths in January 2024 and having returned lame the following month, he bounced back to winning ways on his subsequent chase outing at Cork last month. He is 5lb higher today and tackles a much tougher race but has only once tried three miles, finishing second, and likes soft ground. Thyestes runner-up Velvet Elvis and the third-placed Favori De Champdou have obvious claims but concede plenty weight to the selection. From 10 reopposing rivals, Bushmans Pass was next best in the Thyestes in fifth.
Prediction : 1st Kings Halo 2nd Velvet Elvis 3rd Favori De Champdou

WILLIAM MUNNY defeated the reopposing rival C'est Ta Chance in a Naas bumper last season and can confirm those placings from 4lb better terms, despite being a two-race maiden over hurdles. Following that Naas bumper, the selection finished third in a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival and while beaten in two recent maiden hurdles, those were smart contests and he performed well in both of them. C'est Ta Chance is generally consistent and while he holds Taponthego on recent Navan form, he might struggle to beat the selection. The Great Nudie faces a tougher task than when winning here last month.
Prediction : 1st William Munny 2nd Cest Ta Chance 3rd Taponthego

DR EGGMAN has been absent since finishing third at Perth when Willie Mullins was trying to secure the UK Trainers' Championship at the end of last season and looks to have found a good opportunity to open his account over hurdles on his return from a lengthy absence. The Ballinrobe bumper winner showed a high level of placed form in maiden hurdles last term, including when third to Caldwell Potter at Navan. Hello Jack has twice been placed behind Mullins-trained odds-on favourites and now steps up in trip, while Last Kingdom won a bumper in France but needs to improve on the form shown in two hurdle starts for current connections. Youlita and Slieve Annilog are two point-to-point winners to note.
Prediction : 1st Dr Eggman 2nd Hello Jack 3rd Last Kingdom

PROPHET'S CORNER won four times between the flags and now tackles handicap company for the first time after showing promise when placed in all three maiden hurdle starts. The Westerner gelding likes to force the pace and was only headed approaching the last when third to the odds-on Argento Boy over a slightly longer trip here earlier this month. Must Go Now had Portnacoo (now 14lb better off on official ratings) nearly nine lengths behind when successful over 2m4f at Fairyhouse on New Year's Day. Portnacoo completed a hat-trick when trained by his veteran owner Harry Smyth last year and has won over 2m6f, while Duffys Hodey has won three of his last four starts but has gone up 26lb as a result.
Prediction : 1st Prophets Corner 2nd Portnacoo 3rd Must Go Now

BEGORRA MAN ran a cracker on debut when keeping on into fifth behind the smart Kopek Des Bordes in a 23-runner maiden hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. The Flemensfirth gelding should progress from that outing and gets the vote over Gameofinches, who easily beat a couple of subsequent winners in a Dromahane point-to-point last November. Cosmos D'ainay also won between the flags at Borris House, while Casterly Rock is another to consider after being beaten less than two lengths on his debut at Fairyhouse last month. Any market move for Rojuco Mac on debut would be interesting.
Prediction : 1st Begorra Man 2nd Gameofinches 3rd Casterly Rock