UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

CINAMMON COCO has improved from run to run over hurdles and turned around Ballinrobe form with Hopes Are High when winning readily at Down Royal. Ground conditions are likely to be similar here and the Persian King gelding can take the next step up the ladder. Hopes Are High was a winner at Listowel last time but his double penalty means he is only 2lb better off with the selection from Down Royal and that leaves him with a stiff task. Secret Force was just ahead of Al Riffa's half-brother Superficial on the Flat at Listowel and both runners merit respect on their hurdling debuts.
Prediction : 1st Cinammon Coco 2nd Hopes Are High 3rd Secret Force

Down Royal winner EASTMORE ran well in defeat at Listowel and will enjoy the likely good ground here. He's up another 3lb but still looks on a reasonable mark and Charles Byrnes' runner can strike again. Watching The Clock got going late to win at Galway and her trainer felt that she won in spite of soft ground that day. This will be only her third start in a handicap and she's open to plenty of improvement. Derry Lad looked well handicapped ahead of his run at Downpatrick but drifted in the market and appeared to have no excuses. Bearami Creek would prefer further, while Deed Pole is one to note in his first handicap.
Prediction : 1st Eastmore 2nd Watching The Clock 3rd Derry Lad

Glen Kiln will do for many here after his unfortunate defeat at Tipperary but drying ground is a concern and it might just be worth opposing him. He was set to win a Grade 3 only to depart at the last and his new mark leaves him well in at the weights, but it's a quick enough reappearance for the likely favourite and SMOOTH TOM is preferred. Andy Slattery's charge has shown enough pace to be placed in two renewals of the Irish Lincolnshire and has a good record in small-field contests over hurdles. Fred Winter sixth Wendrock has been off since April but will be suited by stepping up in trip.
Prediction : 1st Smooth Tom 2nd Glen Kiln 3rd Wendrock

An ordinary contest and YOURE A DERRY GIRL might be good enough to score under her 7lb claimer. The Leading Light mare landed a bumper on summer ground a couple of years ago and finished ahead of two recent winners when second at Ballinrobe last month. She was below par last time but is worth another chance. Reiki Revolution was placed over this trip in May and has been running well over 3m since. The five-year-old put in a sloppy round of jumping when second at Kilbeggan, but the winner enhanced that form next time and he's a big player here. Point-to-point winner Accustomed ran respectably at Navan and might be next best.
Prediction : 1st Youre A Derry Girl 2nd Reiki Revolution 3rd Accustomed

MELLEM ran well at Roscommon after four months off and might be able to claim a first success here. Mark Fahey's runner was caught late over 3m at Leopardstown in March and finished second over this trip in May. He can turn form around with third-home Gortmore Lady. Dunany Point has been placed three times since winning over this trip in April and ran well from the front at Listowel last time. Demanding Gerry has been knocking on the door and bumped into an improver when second at Clonmel. She likes good ground and should be in the mix again.
Prediction : 1st Mellem 2nd Dunany Point 3rd Demanding Gerry

A competitive affair but RISING DUST looks the one to side with off bottom weight. The seven-year-old just failed to land a gamble at Kilbeggan on his first start for Emmet Mullins but those losses were recouped when he won readily at Listowel. He got 12lb for that and is into a much better race now but there must be every chance that he's still ahead of the handicapper. Duke Silver stays well and also won at Listowel but would probably prefer a bit more juice in the ground. Sign From Above comes here off the back of a win at Gowran and stepping up in trip should suit, but he has plenty of weight to shoulder.
Prediction : 1st Rising Dust 2nd Sign From Above 3rd Duke Silver

Prophetess Miriam was second to a classy type at Listowel and clearly has a nice level of ability but this can go to one of the newcomers and EASTER BONNET is the obvious starting point. Willie Mullins' four-year-old is a half-sister to three bumper winners and two of those won first time out. The Doctor Dino filly can strike here and market strength would add to confidence. Gordon Elliott introduces Courageous Cleo, who is out of a sister to high-class hurdler Grandouet and she has to enter calculations, while Foxy Footprints is a half-sister to five Flat winners and is another to note.
Prediction : 1st Easter Bonnet 2nd Courageous Cleo 3rd Prophetess Miriam