Punchestown Tips Today: Jake Price's Best Bets for Thursday

Tip 1: GAMEBALL - 1pt Win

Best odds available of 4/1 at bet365 while publishing.

The opener on Thursday is a very interesting race, with Fairyhouse flop Leader D'Allier installed as the favourite for Willie Mullins. I am of the opinion that he wants much softer ground than he is going to get on Thursday however, and as such I would rather be with Henry de Bromhead's GAMEBALL, who has missed all of the winter waiting for this quicker surface.

This 6yo got off the mark over Hurdles over this course and distance at Punchestown in October with an easy 6 length success, but it was his run in the Grade 2 Royal Bond Novice Hurdle that particularly interests me. Ridden like he is a horse good enough to win the race, I thought in the end he paid for trying to go with Koktail Brut and Blake - but it was still a very creditable effort in fourth place despite being run down late on by the closer The Passing Wife, who has also turned out to be a very nice horse over increased distances.

Something else notable about that Fairyhouse run was that he was keen in the early stages, so connections now reach for a first-time Hood to try and dispensate those concerns. There surely has to be plenty more to come from him now he gets his preferred ground conditions, and he looks the bet in the field to my eye, especially as a completely fresh horse compared to the majority of his rivals.

Tip 2: DESERTMORE HOUSE - 1pt Win

Best odds of 10/3 at Ladbrokes while publishing.

Trainer Martin Brassil gave some very valid excuses for DESERTMORE HOUSE blowing out in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, as he feels everything just happened a bit too quickly for our selection on that course. It isn't hard to back that claim up either, owing to the fact that speed horse Final Orders ended up winning well. With his record at the slower Punchestown Banks course there for all to see however, I think he can make amends in the La Touche on Thursday.

His first attempt at the Banks came in this race twelve months ago, where I thought he ran an absolute belter when patiently ridden and only out battled after the last by Busselton. When he returned to the course in the Risk Of Thunder in November his Jockey Ricky Doyle seemingly learnt from that experience however, giving him a much more aggressive ride. On that occasion he ran out a ready winner, beating The Goffer by 4 lengths.

Considering he is a horse who relishes better ground you would have to say that he has outstanding claims of going one better in the La Touche this time around, and in receipt of 5lbs from the favourite Vanillier, I would much rather play our selection at the prices.

Tip 3: JALILA MORIVIERE - 0.5pts EW (5 Places)

Best odds of 14/1 at Skybet while publishing.

The two-mile Handicap Chase division has been wide open in Ireland this season, and once again we are met with a puzzling field for this Listed contest at Punchestown. You certainly should not be afraid to take a swing on one at a price here though, and as such I thought JALILA MORIVIERE was worth a play at what looks quite a big price.

Twelve months ago this Mare finished a very good fourth in the 2m4f Handicap Hurdle at the Punchestown Festival, where she probably didn't quite see out that extended trip as well as Hey Sunshine or Iberico Lord, but it was still a decent effort where she showed her aptitude for quicker ground. Following that connections then saved her for the Galway Hurdle where she was a notable drifter in the market, but she led all the way down to the final flight before giving way and having to settle for fourth once again.

Having gone over fences this season I thought it was notable that she started out at Sligo all the way back in October where once again she showed to enjoy the quicker ground, and this time she recorded a bloodless 20 length success over the 2m1½f trip - which admittedly is probably around her optimum on what she has shown to date. This isn't unusual for a French Mare as back in her native country she ran plenty of times over 2m2f at Auteuil, but I do think she has enough pace to win over this 2m½f trip if given a nice aggressive ride.

She hasn't been busy over the winter with connections seemingly agreeing with my assertation that she probably enjoys a sounder surface, but on her penultimate start she ran a very eye-catching race in the 2m5½f Grade 3 Novice Chase at Thurles where she was given an aggressive ride but clearly didn't see out the trip as well as her rivals. Regardless, the form looks very strong with Nowwhaydoyouthink, Soldier In Milan and Fleur In The Park all winning Graded races and the Irish National since.

She was chucked into the 2m Novice Handicap Chase at the Fairyhouse Festival last time out where off a mark of 132 she was clearly not the JP McManus horse of choice as she never moved from her position anchored in the rear. The handicapper very generously gave her 2lbs back for that effort on Soft ground however, and off a mark of 130 if she does go from the front she surely has to have huge claims back at the Punchestown Festival.