UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Dual hurdles winner JOHN THE DIVA has a preference for right-handed tracks and is better judged on his seasonal-debut second at Gowran than his unplaced effort in a Navan handicap last time. The nine-year-old goes well on testing ground so if the forecast rain arrives before this opening contest, it will enhance his prospects. Brucejack was a long way behind the selection at Gowran and would prefer a longer trip, but he is a very experienced handicapper over fences and has to be respected. Additional Time is a point-to-point and hurdles winner and has to enter calculations on his first chase start, while well-bred point winner Banter At The Bar is another to note.
Prediction : 1st John The Diva 2nd Brucejack 3rd Additional Time

None of these can be ruled out in a tightly-knit affair, with the powerhouse stables of Mullins and Elliott both doubly represented. Slight preference is for the Jimmy Mangan-trained PURE STEEL, who improved from his seasonal debut at Naas, where he finished behind subsequent Fairyhouse winner Jacob's Ladder, to win readily over the extended 2m at this venue. The Yeats gelding was a point-to-point winner at four and may be suited by this step up in trip. Dual course winner Predators Gold, preferred to Kappa Jy Pyke by Paul Townend, was the best of these over hurdles and won on his chase debut over a longer trip at Navan, while The Enabler readily beat more experienced rivals at Fairyhouse.
Prediction : 1st Pure Steel 2nd Predators Gold 3rd The Enabler

HAKENSACK has been placed on his last two starts over flights and goes straight into handicap company, off his hurdles mark, on his first chase outing. The seven-year-old ran well in a couple of point-to-points and is ridden by a leading conditional. Duce Bigalow showed much improved form on his second start over fences when runner-up over 2m at Naas and also has the assistance of a talented and in-form rider. Diamond Dollar has shown improvement over hurdles recently and has to enter calculations on chase debut, while three-time hurdles winner Baltinglass Hill is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Hakensack 2nd Duce Bigalow 3rd Baltinglass Hill

GRINGO D'AUBRELLE looks nicely treated back over fences. The 10-year-old was a good winner on his last outing off a rating of 124 over timber at Navan. He races off 113 over the larger obstacles and Josh Halford takes a useful 7lb off his back. Showurappreciation ran well on his first outing in handicap company over fences when third at Navan. He looks open to further improvement and Derek O'Connor is a positive booking. Nine Graces won this last year, but hasn't shown the same form since. Krabat comes here in winning form and Adam Ryan offsets the 5lb rise he got for that Limerick success.
Prediction : 1st Gringo Daubrelle 2nd Showurappreciation 3rd Krabat

Smart Flat performer SOBER looks the pick of the two Willie Mullins-trained runners and should prove the one to beat. The Camelot gelding was last seen winning in fine style at Royal Ascot last summer and struck on his sole outing over timber at Killarney prior to that. This relatively nice ground should suit. Stablemate Free Spirit was successful over hurdles in his native France in June and is an interesting rival. Road Exile battled back to win his maiden hurdle at Navan last month and may want further than this in time.
Prediction : 1st Sober 2nd Free Spirit 3rd Road Exile

SPRINGHILL WARRIOR may be able to give Gordon Elliott another winner here. The five-year-old ran a big race on his sole outing at Navan back in March when chasing home Positive Energy. That was a solid enough race and, with natural improvement, he could prove the one to beat. Riskabahia is capable of better than she showed first time up over jumps at Navan. The French Flat winner was hampered early on and made little impression at the business end. Smart Flat performer Tyson Fury was a promising fourth on his hurdling debut at Leopardstown over Christmas and is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Springhill Warrior 2nd Riskabahia 3rd Tyson Fury

SAN HILARIO has been knocking on the door and might be able to make the breakthrough, despite creeping up a few pounds. The Gordon Elliott-trained gelding got caught in a bit of a pocket early in the straight at Punchestown last time and finished off strongly on the run-in when chasing home Linden Arden. Going up a bit in trip should help. Plunkett Street was a good winner on his last outing at Thurles and could be a danger, despite his 7lb rise. Happy Dreams has been in fine form and is another who has to be given respect.
Prediction : 1st San Hilario 2nd Plunkett Street 3rd Happy Dreams