UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Vanillier won this race in impressive fashion last year and the following month had THE GOFFER about a length behind when an unlucky third to Stumptown at the Cheltenham Festival. The Gavin Cromwell-trained grey has been generally disappointing since and The Goffer comprehensively turned the tables over this course in November when second to Desertmore House, with Three By Two about 20 lengths behind in fourth. Conflated and Fakir D'Oudairies are both Grade 1 winners over fences, but have failed to score in point-to-points this term and appear a shadow of their peak ability.
Prediction : 1st The Goffer 2nd Vanillier 3rd Conflated

CRECORA HILLS won a Naas handicap hurdle and opened her account over fences at the same track when readily taking a 2m4f handicap in November. She was subsequently placed here off her revised mark and may have been found a decent opportunity to add to her tally. Nine Graces has won over hurdles and fences at this venue, including an impressive success over a similar trip early last year. She indicated a return to form here last month and may pose more of a threat than Sophia Rose, who steps up in trip after a creditable fourth at the Limerick Christmas meeting. Gaoth Chuil is another to consider.
Prediction : 1st Crecora Hills 2nd Nine Graces 3rd Sophia Rose

TOO BOSSY FOR US earned a rating in the 90s on the Flat and gained hurdling experience when far from disgraced in Grade 1 company last spring. The son of Golden Horn was placed in the valuable Petingo Handicap over 1m5f at Leopardstown in September and was also a creditable seventh on his jumping debut in the Triumph Hurdle. Speculateur won a point-to-point for Colin Bowe and filled the runner-up spot behind the selection's stablemate King Of Aces when switched to hurdles at Clonmel last month. Old Saxony has been absent since winning on the Flat for David Simcock in 2024, while Mino Des Mottes and Forceonmyown appear the pick of the remainder.
Prediction : 1st Too Bossy For Us 2nd Speculateur 3rd Mino Des Mottes

Gordon Elliott's AGAMEOFTWOHALVES could be the answer to this maiden hurdle. There was some promise in his sixths in big fields at Navan and Naas before a remote fourth behind an impressive winner at Fairyhouse. Testing ground holds no fears for him and he's related to a couple of horses who have winning form over this sort of distance. Loyal Praetorian will enjoy this trip and ground, and wasn't done with in second when he departed at the penultimate flight at Limerick over Christmas. A step up in distance is likely to suit Good Option, who can get in the mix. Harpy Eagle has plenty of placed form, although that has all been on better ground.
Prediction : 1st Agameoftwohalves 2nd Loyal Praetorian 3rd Good Option

LUMIERE DU LARGE could be worth chancing on handicap debut. She had useful form in France and was tried in Grade 1 company at Cheltenham and Punchestown on her first couple of starts for Willie Mullins. She was unplaced on both occasions and finished fourth in a maiden hurdle at Cork in December, but the suspicion is that there is more to come from her. The handicapper didn't miss Needs Must's victory in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse and he looks a big player, despite carrying top-weight. Take Stock and Mojoe are others capable of being in the mix.
Prediction : 1st Lumiere Du Large 2nd Needs Must 3rd Take Stock

FILLYOUREYE is taken to overturn Cork form with Frankie's Freebie on this ground. He was adrift of the winner in third, but prior to that he filled the runner-up berth behind useful sorts on testing ground at Navan and at this track. Frankie's Freebie is a former point-to-point winner who has been placed in both maiden hurdles to date, so merits plenty of respect. That Danny Feeling, who has two bumper victories in the book, is a consistent horse and is well worth a market check on this step up in trip, while Lord Tobin and Bergamasquo are potential improvers over this trip.
Prediction : 1st Fillyoureye 2nd Frankies Freebie 3rd That Danny Feeling

SLOTTY DOTTY has been chasing, but was a decisive winner over a similar trip at this racecourse just over a year ago and competes off 2lb lower with Calum Hogan's claim factored in. Pebble Bleu is sure to be popular after winning at Thurles last week, where she availed of a good ride off the front and reappears under the mandatory 7lb penalty. Magic Boum gets first-time cheekpieces after a fourth at Navan, while Watching The Clock generally runs her race and tries 2m7f for the first time. Catchabird attempts a new trip in a bid to make the elusive breakthrough.
Prediction : 1st Slotty Dotty 2nd Pebble Bleu 3rd Magic Boum