Hi all,
A disappointing Saturday although both the Warwick and Kempton big race winners were high on the shortlist. Cobblers Dream was a missed opportunity. When I first looked at the race on Wednesday, he was in my top three but the more I investigated the race I went against him. I wasn’t sure about Éclair Surf jumping at a track like Warwick so he wasn’t as frustrating a miss as Cobblers Dream.
After a good start to the year its back down to earth but it’s a marathon not a sprint and we do have another day to claw back yesterday losses.
The highlights of the Sunday action are at Punchestown where the feature race the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (12:15) is the first race on the card. Later, on the card last season’s top novice hurdler Bob Olinger will be odds on to make it 2-2 over fences in the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase (2:20).
In today’s main piece I preview the two big races at Punchestown. Plus, I have a well handicapped selection from this afternoon’s meeting at Kelso.
Punchestown
12:15- Sky Bet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2) – 2m
Dysart Dynamo looked a top novice hurdle prospect when making all to win on his hurdle debut at Cork last month. A winner of both his bumper starts last season the 6-year-old will be hard to beat here.
One of Dysart Dynamo’s main rivals looks to be stablemate Hawai Game. A French bumper winner in October 2020. The 5-year-old was purchased by J P McManus after that success. Off the track for 14 months. Like his stablemate he also made a successful hurdle debut at Naas last month. Jumping needs to improve but he’s another high-class recruit to the jumping ranks.
Guily Billy was turned over at 1/3 at Clonmel on his hurdle debut but made amends when comfortably winning at Tramore last month. He looks to have a big future and a trainer Henry De Bromhead is back among the winners.
Verdict: Dysart Dynamo could book his Cheltenham place with a win here. Guily Billy is another with plenty of potential and a good run can be expected.
2:20 – Kildare Novice Chase (Grade 3) – 2m 4f
Cheltenham Festival winning Ballymore Hurdler Bob Olinger made a winning chase debut at Gowran Park in November. First run since that success but he will be hard to beat on just his second start over the larger obstacles.
Not for the first time his main rivals look to be from the Willie Mullins stable. Mullins saddles Gaillard Du Mesnil & Capodanno. The former was 7 ½ lengths runner-up to Bob Olinger in the Ballymore before boosting that form when winning a Grade 1 at the Punchestown Festival. Bred to be a chaser. He was a disappointing 4/11 favourite when a 2-length 3rd of 15 to Capodanno on his debut over fences at Naas last month. Today’s extra furlong will suit and he might be able to finish ahead of his stablemate with that run under his belt. Capodanno a comfortable winner of a 3m handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival. The 6-year-old overcame a bad mistake at the second last to win on his chase debut at Naas and looks like he will prove to be a better chaser than a hurdler. It has the potential to be a fascinating novice chase.
Verdict: It’s hard to look beyond Bob Olinger but should the favourite underperform his old rival Gaillard Du Mesnil could be the one who takes advantage.
Kelso
The racing at Kelso on Sunday is more moderate. I was interested in chase debutant and top-weight Into Overdrive in the 1:05. However, trainer Mark Walford is very much on the cold list with no winner in the last 83-days.
2:40 – Kelso Betting Ring Bookmakers Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 2m
Top-weight Elvis Mail seemed to enjoy the return to the smaller obstacles when an 8-length 4th of 13 to Tamar Bridge at Aintree last month. Three from 6 at the Kelso. He looks a worthy favourite and this is a drop-in class from last time.
Albert’s Back was in great form in Nov/Dec 2020 winning at Wetherby & Haydock. Hasn’t run well on either start this season but the 8-year-old has dropped to 3lb below his last winning mark and would have a good chance if bouncing back to his best. He looks worth chancing at the 12/1 available with Paddy Power.
Betting Advice:
Punchestown
12:15 – Guily Billy – 11/2 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
2:20 – Gaillard Du Mesnil – 11/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Kelso
2:40 – Albert’s Back – 12/1 @ Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook
Cheers
John