A 2m maiden hurdle at 14.05 starts the second day of Punchestown’s two-day meeting and Willie Mullins saddles Ego Des Mottes who was a little disappointing on his first start at Galway. We’ve no real explanation for that run, but think he’s improved. He’ll have to thought to contend with Noel Meade’s odds-on favourite Beacon Edge, who looks like he will take all the beating, while The Very Man could also run a good race.
There’s just four runners in the 2m 2f Novice Chase at 15.45 where Willie Mullins saddles Cool Colonnada against Gigginstown’s three runners. Cool Colonnada is a good jumper, has won a couple of chases and is fit and well and should run his usual honest race. Henry De Bromhead’s Jan Maat is kind of classy and could be best of the Gigginstown runners.
The feature race on the card is the Grade 3 Chase over 3m 1f at 16.15. looks a two-horse race between Balko Des Flos and Tout Est Permis. Balko Des Flos won the Ryanair Chase in 2018 while Noel Meade’s Tout Est Permis was brilliant last year after backing up an impressive Troytown Chase win at Navan, with a narrow win over Sub Lieutenant at Thurles. He rounded off his season by finishing eight in the Irish Grand National.
Dounikas and Alpha Des Obeaux look more suited to handicaps than conditions races like this.
Tout Est Permis was a huge improver last year and could be too good for Balko Des Flos today.
Jessica Harrington looks to hold all the aces in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle at 15.10. Lucky Road of Gavin Cromwell bids for a four-timer but Morosini could be well handicapped in a race where his stablemate Conron could also run well at a big price.
We’ve one runner at Bath this afternoon where Willie sends Diamond Hill over for the 1m 6f Listed race at 15.20. She was a good winner at Galway in a Listed contest over 1m 4f a month ago and Willie actually won this race last year with True Self.
We’ll be hoping for a repeat success.
*Prices correct at time of publishing
Scoot over to PaddyPower.com now for all the latest racing odds