Horse Racing Tips: Our 6 prize picks at Punchestown on Sunday

PPTV'S James Shortt's punchy punts to round off the weekend. Bosh.

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*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

12:30 Sixshooter

SIXSHOOTER impressed me when winning first time up over fences at Galway last month and can improve again to land the Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase on Sunday. Noel Meade’s six-year-old travelled and jumped well before winning in good fashion and could outsmart Vanillier under Bryan Cooper. Gavin Cromwell’s Albert Bartlett winner will strip fitter for his third-place finish at Down Royal, while Fancy Foundations warrants respect despite his fall behind Gin On Lime at Tipperary.

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13:00 Lord Lariat

Dermot McLoughlin knows what it takes to win this handicap chase following success with Freewheelin Dylan in 2019 and his LORD LARIAT looks the one here in a competitive renewal. The six-year-old was headed late when just touched off at Fairyhouse last month and can gain compensation this Sunday. A slight drop in trip along with drying ground are positives with Alfa Mix looking his biggest danger following a nice comeback run at Galway behind Sixshooter.

13:30 Gauloise

Willie Mullins has won this Listed Mares Hurdle five-times in the previous six-seasons and this year’s renewal looks a competitive affair at lunchtime on Sunday. Despite disappointing and finishing well behind Telmesomethinggirl at Cheltenham, GAULOISE has a big pull at the weights which could get her over the line to secure victory. She subsequently progressed nicely with a fine second to Skyace at Fairyhouse before ending the season with a smart victory here in late April – she’s the one for me.

14:05 Echoes In Rain

The dominance of Willie Mullins in the Morgiana Hurdle looks set to continue on Sunday with the improving ECHOES IN RAIN and 2018 winner Sharjah a strong hand for the Colsutton team. It’s a big ride for Sean O’Keeffe on a vastly progressive mare who settled much better in her races at Fairyhouse and when winning smartly in Grade 1 company here in April. It will be fascinating to see how she fares against her stablemate, the improving Zanahiyr and last years winner Abacadabras.

The daughter of Authorized has plenty to find on official ratings but her short ante-post price for this race and Willie Mullins’ pre-race comments in the build-up suggests she’s fit and ready to strike. Reading between the lines, I think Sharjah might need the run while race tactics, like in all Grade 1’s will be interesting as always. There are plenty of hold up performers which should see Zanahiyr race forward with Sean O’Keeffe likely to sit handy and perhaps even kick-on if the early pace is slow.

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14:40 Shantreusse

SHANTREUSSE is having a first start for new connections and now races for Henry De Bromhead following two previous starts under rules for Sam Curling. The son of Shantou has shown more than enough on those outings to see off these rivals and win on his hurling debut under Rachael Blackmore. His second-place finish to Ginto at Navan in February reads well after Gordon Elliott’s horse subsequently won nicely over hurdles last weekend. Hemlock and Young Fitzy have franked the form of his bumper victory at Clonmel in April where he hardly came out of third gear.

15:50 Recognize

The Big Getaway and Letsbeclearaboutit were nice winners of this bumper in recent years and this renewal looks a good affair despite a small declared field of six-runners. Smooth Player and The Big Doyen will be popular following victories at Galway and Roscommon but RECOGNIZE gets the vote for me. I thought Timmy Hyde’s runner was a little unlucky not to win at Thurles on debut when not getting a clear run turning for home. He came nicely through horses from a long way back and in the closing stages to suggest he learned plenty from that performance to go close when reappearing.

Punchestown tips on Sunday

12:30 Sixshooter
13:00 Lord Lariat
13:30 Gauloise
14:05 Echoes In Rain
14:40 Shantreusse
15:50 Recognize

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change

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