*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey has picked out a number of runners who could win big at Punchestown and Exeter on Sunday.
Speaking on the latest episode of Paddy Power’s From The Horse’s Mouth podcast, our expert trader shed some light on his selections ahead of a weekend which has already been badly impact by the weather.
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1.30pm, Punchestown – Shady Operator
It’s very interesting that Auvergnat won this cross country race in 2017 and 2018 but hasn’t run over the banks since Cheltenham when he was pulled up behind Tiger Roll two years ago.
SHADY OPERATOR hasn’t run brilliantly since Enda Bolger acquired him off Joseph O’Brien, but he hasn’t been overly disappointing either on two chase starts. He found 2m at Cork far too sharp for him and he was well backed when going off favourite at Limerick in the Tim Duggan but he’s interesting going over the banks. Derek O’Connor is booked, which caught my eye.
With the cross country, you’ve got Tiger Roll pushing on and Easysland hasn’t run in a while so you’ve got scope for something to come out of left-field for that race at the festival.
2.00pm, Punchestown – Uhtred
I was hoping to see Keskonrisk entered but he’s not so Joseph O’Brien relies on UHTRED. He’s very interesting, and was well backed to win the bumper at Fairyhouse nearly two years ago now. He was beaten on his first hurdles start by Front View at Cork but went back to Navan for a Listed bumper over a year ago and won that nicely enough with the likes of Dewcup and Pencilfulloflead behind. It will be interesting to see him back over hurdles.
Joseph O’Brien also has Fire Attack, who looked good on his hurdles debut in a Grade 3 but was outstayed over two-and-a-half miles by Fakiera. He has disappointed since, when he was well beaten at Leopardstown at Christmas then he fell behind Dreal Deal at Punchestown. You’ve also got Thedevilscoachman in there and Willie Mullins has Power Of Pause.
I think Uhtred might be worth taking a small chance on because he has plenty of ability, even though he lacks for experience compared to the rest of the field.
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2.40pm, Exeter – Chantry House
(Inspection at 8.30am)
CHANTRY HOUSE is declared in this and it will be interesting to see if he gets back on track after his disappointing run at Cheltenham. He’ll get a bit of a test here, as he has to face Bold Plan, Elixir De Nutz and Kalooki.
3.10pm, Exeter – The Glancing Queen
(Inspection at 8.30am)
I like THE GLANCING QUEEN for Alan King. She’s a good bumper horse, and when you go back a couple of years he was fifth in Envoi Allen’s Champion Bumper before she went on to win the mares’ Grade 2 bumper at Aintree afterwards. She missed nearly a full year due to a setback but came back and reappeared in Ferny Hollow’s Champion Bumper win last year – she ran okay and was eighth, so not disgraced at all.
She’s two from three over hurdles this year, and her defeat was when third behind Bravemansgame in the Challow Hurdle at Newbury. She’s got Tom Cannon booked up here and I think she’s a very useful mare. She’s getting a bit of weight off a few here so I think she may take some beating.
4.10pm, Exeter – Palmers Hill
(Inspection at 8.30am)
It’s always risky having a bet for winning purposes in a Pertemps qualifier when horses are trying to sneak into the race but PALMERS HILL is probably right on the mark with 137. He won at Cheltenham last season and was just touched off at Kempton by Downtown Getaway off a mark of 133. He had his chase debut at Taunton in December and didn’t jump great at all so is back over hurdles here. He might just be aiming to creep into the first four or so but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go well.
4.30pm, Punchestown – Se Mo Laoch
I’m going to take a chance on one down at the bottom of the weights who will probably be a fairly big price – SE MO LAOCH for Brian McMahon. He only carries 10st1lb which will be a help on testing ground over a 3.5m trip. He only had three chase starts last season, winning on the second of those at Navan. He went really nicely then off a mark of 123 and wasn’t disgraced in the Midlands National when sixth off a mark of 131. He was well beaten but the ground was really, really testing over 4m2f that day.
He’s only running off a mark of 126 here, and he has first-time blinkers. I thought he ran a lovely race over hurdles, albeit off a much lower mark, when second to Unexpected Depth at Punchestown over 3m. Unexpected Depth has run really well since, coming third in a Pertemps qualifier and second at the Dublin Racing Festival. He’s gone up to a mark of 145, having won off just 130.
Down at the bottom of the weights, with Philip Enright on board, he could go well at an each-way price.
4.40pm, Exeter – Snow Leopardess
(Inspection at 8.30am)
This isn’t a great race, but I just think SNOW LEOPARDESS is the one in form and is probably the safest one. She landed a bit of a punt at Haydock over 3m1f so no matter how testing it will get at Exeter, that will be no issue for her. She ran really well in the Rowland Meyrick on St Stephens’ Day when beaten by Canelo, who is a rapid improver this season.
She is the highest-rated in the field and has the most consistent form this form, so she is the one to beat.
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change
Frank Hickey’s bet summary – Sunday, February 14
1.30pm, Punchestown – Shady Operator
2.00pm, Punchestown – Uhtred
2.40pm, Exeter – Chantry House
3.10pm, Exeter – The Glancing Queen
4.10pm, Exeter – Palmers Hill
4.30pm, Punchestown – Se Mo Laoch
4.40pm, Exeter – Snow Leopardess
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