Mick Fitzgerald’s Punchestown Tips:
15:40 – Gordons Aura
16:15 – Douglas Talking
16:50 – Stealthy Tom
17:25 – Klassical Dream
18:00 – Grozni
18:35 – El Fabiolo
19:10 – Lilith
19:45 – Ballyburn
*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.
15:40 – Gordons Aura
The opening handicap hurdle is really competitive but Gordon Elliott may have the answer with one of his two runners in Gordons Aura. He ran very well in a hotly-contested handicap at Fairyhouse and also when a big price in the Boodles Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham. I can see this son of Golden Horn going close in this contest.
16:15 – Douglas Talking
Douglas Talking, his son of Dylan Thomas is unbelievably tough and is such a good jumper that it is hard to get away from that run at Aintree went second to Dancing On My Own. They went very hard in that contest and he was only just run out of it close home. I can see him making all and repelling the home challenge for the in-form team of Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox. Dino Blue is an obvious danger from the all conquering Mullins’ team but the 7lb rise for winning at Fairyhouse will make life tougher after he was second in the Grand Annual at Cheltenham before that.
16:50 – Stealthy Tom
The La Touche Cup over 4m 2f over the Punchestown ‘banks’ is a real spectacle and trainer Enda Bolger is the man to follow. His Stealthy Tom gets the nod and Charlie Swan’s son, Harry, takes the ride in the JP McManus silks. Trainer Peter Maher has really done well in this contest more recently and Alpha Male has the experience and has a chance too.
17:25 – Klassical Dream
The reigning champ Klassical Dream returns and boasts three wins from three runs at the track – two of them in this race and all of them in Grade Ones contests. I see no reason to abandon him now and comes in here fresher than Cheltenham and Aintree winner Sire Du Berlais and that has to be of benefit.
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18:00 – Grozni
The father and son team of Charles and Philip Byrnes have teamed up far plenty of success this season and Grozni ran very well at the Dublin Racing Festival in February. He’s missed all the other festivals and has to be of interest in this contest now. There could be more improvement to come.
18:35 – El Fabiolo
El Fabiolo’s form got a real boost with Jonbon won easily at Aintree. The worry with the Arkle Chase winner is that he can make the odd costly error. He showed at Leopardstown though that he can get himself out of any trouble he gets into. I may have underestimated him in the past but this looks another perfect opportunity to end the season unbeaten.
19:10 – Lilith
Trainer Anthony Honeyball sent Lilith over to win this contest last year and the ground is not an issue for her. She is only 5lb higher than when winning last season and the yard are in red-hot form. She could be a bit of value in this race again.
19:45 – Ballyburn
The concluding bumper can go the way of Team Mullins again who won a bumper on Tuesday night. Owner Ronnie Bartlett has had some good horses with Willie Mullins over the years and Ballyburn was a winner here in February and sets a very high standard. Any market moves for Barry Connell’s Apple’s of Bresil should be noted by Marine Nationale’s trainer Barry Connell. It’s an interesting entry.
Mick Fitzgerald’s Punchestown Tips:
15:40 – Gordons Aura
16:15 – Douglas Talking
16:50 – Stealthy Tom
17:25 – Klassical Dream
18:00 – Grozni
18:35 – El Fabiolo
19:10 – Lilith
19:45 – Ballyburn
*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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