SEAN - Punchestown.

 

I will have a look at the 3.05 Handicap Hurdle which outside of the top 5-6 in the market is full of unexposed form and a few who at face value are just making up the numbers, they call this a "Festival" but in the literal sense too many of the races are like this one with a significant disparity of experience and ability, it's a typical Irish Festival of craic and fellowship and enjoyment, where at times the enjoyment can blur the fact that the quality of racing isn't great. On the flip side the other race I'll attack in the 6.00 is full of some frankly disappointing types but there may be a couple of golden nuggets in there at bigger prices. I would suggest sensible staking on anything at this meeting unless really flagged up for a serious punt.

 

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Punchestown 3.05 -

 

At the top of the market here are the potentially decent;  Backtonornmal ; Blizzard Of Oz and Answer To Kayf. They dominate the market and logic suggests a strong chance to find a reverse F/Cast and T/Cast out of them, so I will have some small Perms accordingly. I can't split them for win purposes and there is very little e/w value in terms of singles bets.

 

There are a few of the others who really catch my eye in the remaining 22 runners, so let's target some enhanced places.

 

BLACK BAMBOO has been in some very decent and deep company of late at Cheltenham and Aintree and before that at Leopardstown, the only niggle is what's left in the tank?. I will be very disappointed though if this one isn't bang in contention. AEROS LUCK for Gavin Cromwell was very competitive before a break, ran well on return and does look somewhat aimed at this race. ANY ROAD is a solid and decent handicapper and looks very solid top 6 material to;me despite being more exposed. Those are my e/w selections.

 

For those who like one at big odds, I'm drawn to OUR GIRL SAL @ 80/1 , this one makes handicap debut and at face value has little to recommend it, but 2 things jump off the page (a) the Trainer has had 2 recent winners of this race and (b) they have certainly been playing around with run styles, a few very prominent, others more hold up and that's a sure fire tactic to get a decent openting mark and to try to hide ability. It's one of those who note and leave completely out at your peril, so you know what to do in terms of a small dabble

 

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Punchestown 6.00

 

Again we are presented with a number of disappointing types, a couple who come from the Aintree national and who will probably want further and a couple of real interest at big prices.

 

The "win banker" though here for me is JAMES DU BERLAIS  and again the only niggle is he isn't over the top, but I do prefer him to The Goffer (who will surely need further) and Lets Go Champ (very unexposed 1st season Chaser).

 

Bill Baxter for the Brits could revive but a couple in here at big prices look worth a punt too.

 

HEREDITARY RULE is a Course and Distance winner off a mark of 129 and has mixed Hurdles and Chase runs this season and as a result has struggled a bit but the mark has come back down to 135 with a 5lbs Claim and this looks like a bit of a target to me. EMBITTERED has been in far deeper races than this at proper Festivals since a Navan win off a mark of 137 and is back finally to something more competitive off 141 with a good 7lbs Claimer

 

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PONTEFRACT 3.15

 

A 9 runner 10 furlong race in soft Conditions and whilst Bearwith will be a tough opponent it probably prefers much better underfoot conditions on grass after some AW RUNS, Giselles Defence and Simpson Paradox have some interesting Irish Flat Turf form and will be dangerous on the best of that form but the page jumper for me is BUSHFIRE for the still in -form Gemma Tutty yard who has wins last season off marks of 64 and 68 including on soft ground and after 2 runs and back to a mark of 68, looks overpriced at around 12/1 (Northern)

 

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