UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

GLEN TO GLEN won a Curragh maiden in March and finished off his Flat campaign with a rating of 87. The Dawn Approach gelding was far from disgraced on his hurdling debut at Navan last Sunday, when fifth behind the highly-regarded Barbizon, and should benefit from that experience. Combs also won a Flat maiden at Tipperary this year and is now fitted with cheekpieces after being placed on both hurdles starts, while Quinta Do Lago won at Cork in good style and is another to consider along with French import Mont Star.
Prediction : 1st Glen To Glen 2nd Combs 3rd Quinta Do Lago

SANTO SOSPIR won a bumper here on debut in February and finished fourth when reappearing in a 2m maiden hurdle at Wexford last month. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding should progress from that experience and is likely to appreciate this step up in trip. Sound As A Bell won a point-to-point in good style this spring, while stablemate Ready For Road made a creditable start over hurdles recently at Cork. L'as De Watt filled the runner-up spot behind the odds-on I'm Slippy on his hurdles debut at Cork earlier this month and is also noted.
Prediction : 1st Santo Sospir 2nd Sound As A Bell 3rd Las De Watt

KITZBUHEL is a smart recruit to fences and may prove difficult to beat. The French import joined Willie Mullins last season and scored twice over hurdles, including the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran. Riding arrangements suggest Shuffle The Deck is preferred of the JP McManus-owned quintet, and the point-to-point winner was successful twice over hurdles at Naas. James's Gate also won twice over hurdles last term, while Cork maiden hurdle winner Sky Lord is another interesting prospect.
Prediction : 1st Kitzbuhel 2nd Shuffle The Deck 3rd Jamess Gate

Progressive over hurdles last season, ROCKY'S DIAMOND looks the one to beat. The Declan Queally-trained gelding won a Grade 2 at Gowran in January before subsequently finishing fourth in the Stayers' Hurdle. An impressive winner on his chasing debut at Galway in September, he ran into a decent opponent when narrowly beaten at Wexford last time. A Listed winner over flights, Oscars Brother has always given the impression he would make a better chaser. Runner-up on his first two starts over fences, the son of Malinas scored easily on his latest start. Koktail Divin completes the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Rockys Diamond 2nd Oscars Brother 3rd Koktail Divin

The Ross O'Sullivan-trained TALK IN THE PARK can open his account over fences. Having been handicapped over the minimum trip, the seven-year-old ran a huge race when runner-up in a beginners chase at Galway in August. Subsequently third on his first start in handicap company at Listowel, he ran well in a much stronger race when fourth in the Munster National last time. Smart hurdler Waterford Whispers has yet to replicate that form over fences, but gives the impression that he has more to offer. It would be no surprise to see an improved performance upped in distance here. High Class Hero, third in the bet365 Gold Cup, has to be respected if fit and ready on his seasonal reappearance.
Prediction : 1st Talk In The Park 2nd Waterford Whispers 3rd High Class Hero

In the absence of State Man, LOSSIEMOUTH can prove an able deputy for Willie Mullins. A dual Grade 1 winner at this track, the six-year-old mare signed off last season with an impressive victory at Aintree in April. Having always run well off the back of a break, the top-class grey is likely to be fairly straight for this first start of the new campaign. Stablemate Irancy could well represent the biggest danger. A winner here at the Festival in April, the seven-year-old is lightly raced and open to further improvement. Galway Hurdle winner Ndaawi needs to step forward again, but is not without his chance.
Prediction : 1st Lossiemouth 2nd Irancy 3rd Ndaawi

A winner at Fairyhouse earlier this month, STICWITHTHEPROCESS can follow up back in handicap company. Having landed the odds in a maiden hurdle, the handicapper decided to leave him on the same rating and with the form of his previous run in handicap company having been well advertised by the winner, the Ted Walsh-trained gelding could be nicely treated. Collaborative, who was a well-beaten third behind Sticwiththeprocess in April, is almost certainly better than that form suggests. His win at Fairyhouse a couple of months earlier looks strong given the subsequent exploits of the runner-up. Saint Le Fort, who caught the eye at Cork last time, is one to consider for an in-form stable.
Prediction : 1st Sticwiththeprocess 2nd Collaborative 3rd Saint Le Fort

A promising third on his racecourse debut here in February, ROJUCO MAC can make a winning reappearance. The form of that contest looked above average at the time, and the fourth proved that theory right when subsequently landing a bumper. Unlikely to want for fitness coming from these quarters, the Charles Byrnes-trained gelding can make the breakthrough on this second start. Runner-up on both appearances under Rules to date, Grandy Lane shouldn't be long in registering a first victory. Down Royal bumper scorer Ballyfad has to carry a penalty for that success, but the point-to-point winner has to be respected in his bid to maintain his unbeaten record.
Prediction : 1st Rojuco Mac 2nd Grandy Lane 3rd Ballyfad