UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

LEADER D'ALLIER won five bumpers in France and was sent off a warm favourite on his hurdle debut at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting when beating all bar Ballyfad with Straight John over four lengths behind in sixth. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding should benefit from that experience and can go one better. The latter was making his racecourse debut on that occasion and is entitled to improve from that display. Maxfort made a pleasing start to his career when placed behind the selection's stablemate The Reverend at Cork earlier this month, while point-to-point winner Cloudio was second in a strong Cork bumper last spring and is an interesting recruit to hurdles.
Prediction : 1st Leader Dallier 2nd Straight John 3rd Maxfort

The familiar colours of Simon Munir and Isaac Souede are doubly represented here and riding arrangements suggest BIBE MUS is preferred of the pair. The Camelot gelding beat Crooked Path in a Gowran maiden in October and has been placed on both outings since, including when runner-up to Lord in an Aintree Listed race. This represents a drop in class and he gets the vote over Kibris, who won a Curragh maiden on debut as a juvenile but is without a win in three outings over hurdles. Kasper Hauser has plenty of jumping experience and is weighted to reverse previous Cork places with Crooked Path.
Prediction : 1st Bibe Mus 2nd Kibris 3rd Kasper Hauser

BLUE VELVET won a Thurles bumper last season and made a pleasing reappearance over hurdles when runner-up to better fancied stablemate Espresso Milan over 2m here last month. The winner has franked the form since and this daughter of Blue Bresil has plenty of scope for improvement. Miss Doyenne has a similar profile to the selection and looks an obvious threat. The point-to-point winner beat Torpille Dagrostis in a Cork bumper last April and was also placed on her hurdles debut last month over 2m4f at Down Royal. Shadys Lady beat Torpille Dagrostis by 10 lengths in a Naas bumper but was soundly beaten on her hurdling bow at the same venue.
Prediction : 1st Blue Velvet 2nd Miss Doyenne 3rd Shadys Lady

THE PASSING WIFE hails from a yard returning to form and was a smart sort in bumpers, winning three times. The selection has taken well to hurdles this term notably finishing best of all when third to Koktail Brut in the Grade 2 Royal Bond at Fairyhouse. He was soundly beaten in a Grade 1 last time but will appreciate this drop in class and should be suited by the step up in trip. Doctor Du Mesnil impressed when beating Thedeviluno by 11 lengths on debut in a Cork bumper last April and was narrowly denied when switched to hurdles at Leopardstown last month. Springhill Warrior had Atlantic Gamble over 20 lengths behind when second here last time.
Prediction : 1st The Passing Wife 2nd Doctor Du Mesnil 3rd Springhill Warrior

I'M SLIPPY won a valuable bumper on debut at last year's Fairyhouse Easter meeting and easily landed the odds when switched to hurdles at Cork in November. The Robert Tyner-trained gelding was no match for Talk The Talk subsequently at Fairyhouse but that form was put in perspective when the winner looked set to follow up in a Grade 1 at Leopardstown only to fall at the last. Point-to-point winner Spinningayarn took a Navan bumper on his Rules debut and made all last time for a decisive victory in a 2m4f Fairyhouse maiden hurdle. Holy See is another to watch out for.
Prediction : 1st Im Slippy 2nd Spinningayarn 3rd Holy See

KOBALT ST GEORGES appeared to benefit from a summer break when scoring twice over fences at Clonmel and now reverts to hurdles off a 16lb lower mark compared to his revised chase rating. Deanery Charlie didn't show too much in maidens but was noted staying on into fourth when switched to handicap company at Fairyhouse last time, while veteran Robindevidastar has dropped down to a basement mark and showed there was still some spark when fourth behind The Little Yank at Clonmel.
Prediction : 1st Kobalt St Georges 2nd Deanery Charlie 3rd Robindevidastar

COMEONARCHIE seems best with plenty of cut in the ground and was fitted with cheekpieces for the first time when making all over a similar trip here last month. He still appears reasonably treated off just a 5lb higher mark and gets the vote over fellow nine-year-old One Horse Army. The latter showed stamina is his strong suit when scoring twice over fences last term and had a couple of these rivals behind when a creditable fifth over hurdles at Limerick last time. Nettuno Italia can also get competitive.
Prediction : 1st Comeonarchie 2nd One Horse Army 3rd Nettuno Italia