UK Horse Racing Tips: Punchestown

Race sponsor JP McManus recouped his money last year when Thanksforthehelp landed this for David Pipe, but the grey has been out of form since and AGUELLID looks the main hope in the green and gold colours this time. The keen-going top-weight has solid form at right-handed tracks and settled somewhat better when scoring at Wincanton in February. He could be on a nice mark for his first handicap. Radiator Springs was second in a big-field contest at Fairyhouse and may be suited by this longer trip, while Sir Allen returned from a long absence to win on the Flat at Navan and has claims on the pick of his hurdles form.
Prediction : 1st Aguellid 2nd Radiator Springs 3rd Sir Allen

Eric McNamara holds L'EVANGELISTE in high regard and the Pastorius gelding can complete a hat-trick. Sean Flanagan's mount has made all on his last two outings, but connections feel he'll be better with a lead. His record when fresh is reasonably good so a five-month layoff isn't a major concern, particularly with such a good prize up for grabs. Rated 1lb higher than the selection, Vitorio Piel looks a big danger. A bumper winner at this meeting last year, he readily beat Grey Jude at Leopardstown in March and 3m may have been too far last time. Simply Natural has made a promising start over hurdles and is in receipt of weight.
Prediction : 1st L Evangeliste 2nd Vitorio Piel 3rd Simply Natural

Paul Townend rides Soir De Garde and the refitting of a hood should help his chance, but preference is for the other Willie Mullins-trained runner BUNTING. Third in last year's Cesarewitch, he ran well in a Leopardstown handicap hurdle at Christmas and his latest performance in the BetMGM Cup wasn't without merit either. He drops in class and decent ground will suit. Riskaway has been outclassed in Grade 1 company on his last two starts but the form of his maiden win at Thurles in November is strong, while Quinta Do Lago was a creditable fifth in the Fred Winter and may improve for this longer trip.
Prediction : 1st Bunting 2nd Riskaway 3rd Quinta Do Lago

Seven of these ran in the Albert Bartlett and THE PASSING WIFE is taken to reverse form with Fruit De Mer and can land this Grade 1 for Gavin Cromwell. He was only a head behind Fruit De Mer when the pair were placed last month and is a dual winner at this track. Third in the Royal Bond over 2m earlier in the season, that bit of tactical speed might give him the edge. Fruit De Mer showed much-improved form at Cheltenham and can contend again while Doctor Steinberg, a disappointing favourite on that occasion, is now tried in a hood. Talented mare Zanoosh has been hugely progressive on testing ground and steps further up in trip.
Prediction : 1st The Passing Wife 2nd Fruit De Mer 3rd Zanoosh

THE MOURNE RAMBLER can continue the good record of Champion Bumper winners competing in this race, and can confirm his superiority over six reopposing rivals. Bought for 45,000 euros as a store, the Noel Meade-trained five-year-old won a smart Leopardstown bumper back in December and, at the Cheltenham Festival last month, he scored impressively. That form traditionally works out well here, with three of the last four winners having followed up. Boycetown finished fourth at Cheltenham but has a bit to find, while Love Sign D'aunou disappointed then but had previously shown stronger form at Naas.
Prediction : 1st The Mourne Rambler 2nd Boycetown 3rd Love Sign Daunou

The reappearing NOUVOTIC steps up in grade, but this will have been a target and he has suitable ground conditions. Although beaten from a hurdles rating of just 116 at last year's Festival, he is lightly raced and remains a little unexposed as a seven-year-old chaser. He is 8lb higher than when scoring at Wexford, with that race's runner-up franking the form in finishing fourth in the Grand Annual. King Alexander ran well in Cheltenham's novices' handicap chase, while Down Memory Lane was Grade 1-placed in December 2024 and won a Listed handicap chase last December.
Prediction : 1st Nouvotic 2nd King Alexander 3rd Down Memory Lane

Gold Cup heroes GAELIC WARRIOR and Inothewayurthinkin, along with high-profile Cheltenham withdrawal Fact To File, intriguingly meet again. Gaelic Warrior scored brilliantly in the blue riband, is at the peak of his powers, and while twice beaten by Fact To File, both those races were at Leopardstown where he has never shown his best. Admittedly, Fact To File is fresher having been withdrawn from the Ryanair Chase due to ground conditions but Gaelic Warrior has an excellent course record here. Inothewayurthinkin has been beaten by the aforementioned pair plenty of times and reserves his best for the Cheltenham Festival. He has 10 lengths to find with the selection on last month's enigmatic Gold Cup third.
Prediction : 1st Gaelic Warrior 2nd Fact To File 3rd Inothewayurthinkin

GLENS ANTHEM has an excellent pedigree and showed real potential in scoring last month. Related to many smart performers, her dam Glens Melody won infamously at Cheltenham in 2015, when capitalising on Annie Power's final-flight fall. Glens Anthem defeated mostly fellow debutants in scoring at Navan, but impressively clocked a fast time in beating a Charles Byrnes-trained gamble into second place. Coole Cafe won at Listed level at Limerick but is vulnerable to high-class types, while Maximillian Lady finished second in a Listed bumper at Gowran in October and debuts for new connections.
Prediction : 1st Glens Anthem 2nd Coole Cafe 3rd Maximillian Lady