Hi all,
I have previewed the best of Sunday’s action at Punchestown and today’s betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
The feature race on Sunday is Punchestown’s Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle. However, the most competitive contest by far is the Grade 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase.
Punchestown
You don’t often see the feature race being the first one on the card. However, due to the possibility of low sun the Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle opens Punchestown’s eight race card.
Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (12:10)
The Moscow Flyer has a strong favourite in the shape of the Willie Mullins trained Impaire Et Passe. The 5-year-old looked like a potential Grade 1 novice hurdler when winning a Naas maiden 26-days ago. His main rival seems to be the mare Shecouldbeanything. A bumper winner at Limerick in November, she overcame greenness to win on hurdle debut back at that venue 19-days ago. The mare looks like a smart prospect and could live up to her name, but it will be tough to beat Impaire Et Passe who’s open to plenty more improvement too.
Madigan Group Novice Chase (2:10)
This looks like a corker of a renewal of this Grade 3 contest. And you can make cases for five of the seven declared runners. Let’s just hope the low sun doesn’t spoil it.
Ha D’or jumped well when making all to win on chase debut at Fairyhouse (2m 5f) 25-days ago. The slight drop in distance shouldn’t be an inconvenience and looks a smart chasing prospect. Stablemate Glengouly also made all when winning on chase debut at Thurles 45-days ago. He’s capable of better over fences but I suspect Willie Mullins will be surprised if he can beat Ha D’or.
Journey With Me was just below Grade 1 level over hurdles but he’s bred to be a better chaser than hurdler. He was still in contention when falling two out on chase debut but made no mistake when winning at Naas 26-days ago. There’s more to come from the 7-year-old and I think he’s the one to beat on what is sure to be testing ground.
Impervious a useful hurdler has improved for going over the larger obstacles winning both starts including a Grade 2 Mares Novice Chase at Cork last month. It will be tougher against the geldings. However, she’s an above average novice chase mare who should be suited by the step up to an extended 2m 3f
Minella Crooner, another very useful novice hurdler last season, got off the mark at the second attempt with a workmanlike success at Fairyhouse (2m 5f) last month. He should improve with experience but the drop back in trip is a concern as he looks like he needs 3m+.
Rest of the Punchestown card
There are a couple of handicaps on the card.
1:40 – Light Parade won a Thurles handicap in November and improved again when a 7 ¼ length 3rd of 14 at Cork (2m 4f) last time. Remains on a competitive mark and although she probably wouldn’t want the race to be become tactical.
Birdie Blitz returned from six month absence with a solid enough effort when 5th of 22 here (3m ½ f) in November. The first time cheekpieces are applied and a useful 7lb conditional takes over in the saddle today.
3:10 – An amateur rider’s handicap chase and I probably shouldn’t even be looking at this race. John Adams isn’t always foot perfect over fences, unseated his rider here 15-days ago, won this race 12 months ago, from 5lb lower. And a reproduction of that performance would be good enough to win this again. Stablemate Blast Of Koeman rarely wins but he’s tumbled down the weights and ran some good races around here in the past.
Balkito won two handicap chases on soft/heavy ground early last year. Needed the run when down the field on seasonal return here over hurdles 96-days ago. Might be better over 3m+ but given he’s just had six starts over fences he could be capable of a bit better.
Krabat will be ridden by Mr Derek O’Connor, which has to make him of interest. The 8-year-old comes into the race in decent form after third placed efforts over hurdles and fences on his last two starts. A good effort when a 4 ½ length 3rd of 13 in a better race at Limerick 18-days ago. Runner-up won the valuable handicap chase at Fairyhouse yesterday Nudged up 2lb and if the blinkers continue to have the desired effect, he won’t be far away again.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
1:40 – Light Parade – 1pt win – 100/30 @ Bet365
3:10 – Krabat – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Bet365 and John Adams – 1pt win – 16/1 – Gen.
Cheers
John