UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

PURE STEEL was well held in third on his chase bow at Naas, but it was still a good effort considering he went off at 33/1 and, entitled to have improved for the run, the five-year-old will be wiser and might take a bit of beating. He's a point-to-point/hurdles winner and is taken to get the better of Its Bilbo, who finished fourth at Navan but doesn't face anything of Kopek Des Bordes' quality in here. Of the others, keep an eye on Harvard Guy and Anotherway.
Prediction : 1st Pure Steel 2nd Its Bilbo 3rd Anotherway

KURASSO BLUE makes plenty of appeal. Representing the in-form Gordon Elliott yard, the dual hurdles winner made a chase debut full of promise when second at Thurles on his seasonal bow and can only improve for the experience. Port Joulain was deemed good enough for the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March and, although he was never really involved that day, he's still a nice prospect and is respected on his fencing introduction for leading connections. Ballygunner Castle is noted too.
Prediction : 1st Kurasso Blue 2nd Port Joulain 3rd Ballygunner Castle

FILLYOUREYE is taken to build on a solid hurdling debut at Navan behind a useful type of Gordon Elliott's. The son of Leading Light, who scored in a Kilbeggan bumper, doesn't face a rival of that calibre here and compensation appears highly likely. American Jukebox is bred to stay well and would be a threat based on his Leopardstown second in a bumper last December. Others for the shortlist include Hens Tooth and Jackmoon.
Prediction : 1st Fillyoureye 2nd American Jukebox 3rd Hens Tooth

ECHOING SILENCE was a very expensive purchase when bought for 410,000 pounds at Cheltenham in March 2024 and the daughter of Doyen was impressive back over hurdles at Cork. The manner of that performance suggested she is worth stepping up in grade and is likely to prove too strong for Switch From Diesel, who chased home Bambino Fever in the Grade 1 bumper here in April. Ross O'Sullivan's mare is entitled to improve from her hurdling bow, while the unbeaten Chosen Comrade appeals most of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Echoing Silence 2nd Switch From Diesel 3rd Chosen Comrade

NEWBROOK DIAMOND ran a nice race on his track debut at Naas and can go one better now. He chased home a decent sort in Fruit De Mer last month and the front two pulled nicely clear. That recent run under his belt looks a big plus now. Paul Townend sides with Espresso Milan from the two Willie Mullins runners. He was runner-up in a Market Rasen bumper on the middle of three runs last season and is interesting on his first start for the yard. Bumper winner Blue Velvet also has to be respected. She scored at Thurles last December and is related to some useful types.
Prediction : 1st Newbrook Diamond 2nd Espresso Milan 3rd Blue Velvet

This is a real puzzle and the fact that Paul Townend sides with CHARLUS looks significant. The Churchill gelding won on his hurdling debut at Naas last January before finding life a lot tougher in the Triumph Hurdle. He faced some stiff tasks during a subsequent Flat campaign and this looks like a nice spot for him back over timber now. Stablemate Plontier has a similar profile, a smart Flat horse who remains unexposed over hurdles. Jigoro didn't make much impression behind Kopek Des Bordes over fences on his return at Navan. He switches back to timber and sets the standard off his official rating of 133.
Prediction : 1st Charlus 2nd Plontier 3rd Jigoro

COSMO RENFRO proved no match for the well-handicapped Happy Dreams at the business end in Limerick three weeks ago after disputing for most the race with that rival. It was still an improved effort on his first outing for Gavin Cromwell, though, and he looks capable of striking off this mark. Milanaway was also placed at the same venue three weeks ago and looks like a potential danger. Teds Corner takes another step up in trip, having finished third at Fairyhouse last time, and is another that has to be considered.
Prediction : 1st Cosmo Renfro 2nd Milanaway 3rd Teds Corner

LOUGH NIGARA has been knocking on the door and may be able to gain a deserved success here. The Eoin Griffin-trained gelding has been placed on his last three outings and ran well in testing conditions when chasing home Kingkong Ciergues at Fairyhouse last time. He is capable of scoring now, despite a 3lb rise. Pebble Bleu was a game winner at Tramore a fortnight ago and runs off a 4lb higher mark. She looks like an obvious danger. Sallap looked like she might follow up at Thurles on her last outing before falling at the last. Off just a 2lb higher mark she's another for the shortlist.
Prediction : 1st Lough Nigara 2nd Pebble Bleu 3rd Sallap