Horse Racing Tips: Paul Jacobs’ 4 to score across the tracks on Sunday

Punchestown, Southwell and Exeter are in PJ's sights.

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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

14:40 Punchestown – Stones And Roses

I have pondered over this lung-bursting chase for a very long time and after looking back at numerous recordings I still only got it down to five! The Big Dog is a full 8lbs higher than last year and I suspect would want better ground than this. However, this year’s renewal has more quantity than quality so may be he has a better chance than my personal ratings suggest, he is 6lbs below my top rated trio.

After only five starts over fences, Floureur has looked an out and out stayer and a mark of 140 looks fair, but he has made some shuddering errors on each occasion and could well be found out in senior company. That led me to the Paul Townend mount Stones And Roses who has obviously had training problems/injuries as this will be just his 15th start under rules and his 10th over fences.

He unseated at the ninth in the Paddy Power Chase, but had previously looked a strong stayer with a late rally into fourth in the Porterstown Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse at the back end of last year a stand out effort.

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14:50 Southwell – Endowed

The senior citizen here, Ornate, led until the distance when a fading fourth of 10, beaten three quarters of a length over the C&D last month. Officially the same class level, this speed contest has a lot more strength in depth to it.

The plus if you want to back the nine-year-old is that he has a lovely draw in box number eight and is unlikely to be too far away at the finish, but could be taken on by Airshow up front.

In contrast, the lightly raced four-year-old and top weight Night Narcissus probably needs a sixth furlong nowadays. Her form figures over the minimum trip are 28 and her one win has been over an extra 220yards, a distance she has finished second over on no more than four occasions.

With a fast run race guaranteed then, it could set to race up for the well handicapped selection, Endowed, who was a length and a quarter behind Airshow last time out and is set to race off the same terms here.

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16:10 Punchestown – Young Dev (each way)

Over and above the Grand National Trial, I thought that this was the most interesting betting race of the day with the recent Limerick winner, Itsnotinit, set to make the market and likely to go off as short as 5/2. That gives us plenty of leverage to have an each-way play and if the odds are right I wouldn’t put you off having a second string to your betting bow as well.

I have been monitoring the progress of the eight-year-old selection Young Dev for a while and I thought that he was given a rather questionable ride by his amateur partner when a never nearer third in that aforementioned Limerick contest, beaten just over 16 lengths.

A good third since then means he is slightly worse off at the weights, but I think there is more to come with the bigger the field and hopefully stronger pace set to suit him and it is worth noting that he normally takes two or three runs to get tight fit. If you want to back him up with a big priced runner then I wouldn’t put you off either Sweet Sting (plummeting in the weights) or C&D winner Lean Araig.

Exeter Racecourse

16:30 Exeter – Elegant Escape

The key factor at the Devon track will be the forecast weather with plenty of rain set to hit the course in the morning and early afternoon and that could make conditions really testing and therefore highly suitable for the former Welsh National hero, Elegant Escape.

That victory at the back end of 2018 came off a mark of 151 and was followed by a second to Frodon in the Cotswold Chase before finishing sixth in the Gold Cup.

After a spell on the sidelines and a loss of form, he showed plenty on his debut over hurdles (2m at Sandown) and then last time out behind Yala Enki (on unfavoured terms) at Taunton and is able to run off 143 here. The Tizzard horse gets the vote over questionable stayer Aso and the enigmatic Jerrysback.

Sunday racing tips

14:40 Punchestown – Stones And Roses
14:50 Southwell – Endowed
16:10 Punchestown – Young Dev (each way)
16:30 Exeter – Elegant Escape

*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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