Punchestown Wednesday 12th October - SP2A

SEAN - Punchestown 3.20 Handicap Hurdle - 2 miles 4 and 1/2 furlongs - 17 run - Going - Good

I think the top of the market is vulnerable in this one and a few at nice prices caught my eye.

My Immortal returns from 231 days off, it steps back in trip from 3 miles and represents no market value on that basis and I think it'll be vulnerable to speedier and fitter types. Music Of Tara is a 3 mile P2P winner full of promise who has started at 2 miles. It may need further than this and whilst one for the future, isn't great market value in my eyes. SKIPPIN COURT has won off a mark of 109 over 2 miles and 116 over this sort of trip last time out. It's up to a mark of 122 and is in form, fit and has obvious claims. At around 5/1 with enhanced places it looks an each way banker IF you want to play that card.

KIng Kai impressed last time and has a 3 mile P2P background, one to follow but the price doesn't excite me today. Drumcliff drops in trip and may get home easier over this distance and would hold place claims. Scalino is one at big odds who has some back-form if you look deeply. It won over Course and Distance off a mark of 102 in 2020, was hammered by the handicapper and is only now really coming back to that sort of range. It's one to TRACK forwards as it could pick up some nice places going forwards at rewarding Odds.

The ones that interest me, other than SKIPPIN COURT and EBASARI, AUCKLAND and ESPERTI.

EBASARI come from the Elliott yard and is very nicely bred but jumps competently enough for a Flat bred horse. They up it in trip and runs over shorter suggest that the extra yardage shouldn't be an issue. I'll be disappointed if it's not in the first 3 at least here. AUCKLAND is more exposed but has placed off marks of 102, 105 and 109 and won off a mark of 112. It needed a recent run and whilst still off a mark of 118 strikes me as one who could easily outrun it's odds today and definitely one to add to your TRACKERS.

ESPERTI should be competitive off today's mark but may just need the run but is another to add to your Trackers and follow closely.

TIP - Skippin Court / Tracker - Ebasari / Shrapnel - Auckland

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SEAN - Punchestown 5.05 - Handicap Chase - 3 miles - 13 run - Going Good

I see this race as being the opposite to the earlier one in terms of the strength at the head of the market.

It's hard to look past the possibly progressive TEMPTATIONINMILAN and the very consistent old favourite of ours HOKE COLBURN. I'll cover those pair off; with a small reverse Forecast.

There is some value though deeper in the race with a few going to enhanced places.

Silvertown returns off a 5 month break and makes Handicap Chase debut but is very much on to keep an eye on this winter. Another I'll track at bigger odds is Local Rogue who is of interest on some 3 mile P2P from and who may pick up some place money at rewarding odds at less salubrious venues in the coming months.

There are 3 though that I think offer varying degrees of value here.

MENINDEE was progressive over Hurdles, made a few novice jumping errors on Chase debut but definitely has an engine and one to track forwards.

TWILIGHT GIRL won a 3 mile Handicap Chase at Limerick off a mark of 109, it's run a bit flat a few times but they go for Blinkers here and back on a mark of 112 that could just be the perk that it needs. DIFFICULT DECISION has definitely got proven stamina, it needed its recent seasonal debut and could be on a nice mark. My only niggle is it may need some rain but the track is riding perfectly well, not much jar in it and a nice covering of grass, so I'll have a small e/w punt today with the stamina a big asset.

TRACKER - Menindee + Twilight Girl / shrapnel - Difficult Decision