Horse Racing Tips: Our pundit-packed cheat sheet for Wednesday at Punchestown

I’m going for an outsider here with Smooth Scotch who’s trained by the Crawfords and is ridden by Liam Quinlan. He had some very good novice hurdle form but hasn’t run for a couple of years. This firm know how to get one ready and I think on handicap debut this horse might be underestimated.

I like Napper Tandy for Matthew Smith, who was eye-catching at Ballinrobe last time out. He has a big chance as he will have come on a lot for that run.

Willie Mullins has Maroto but he was a little disappointing in a novice hurdle at Clonmel last time out. I like Napper Tandy for Matthew Smith. He was eye-catching at Ballinrobe a couple of weeks ago and he’s well handicapped off a mark of 122. He’s an each-way shout in a wide open race.

This looks a hot handicap for the grade with WALK AWAY HARRY of particular interest at the foot of the weights given he’s well treated on his bumper form for an ultra-shrewd yard. Como Park has blinkers back on over his ideal trip so he’s on the shortlist, with Maroto another potential big improver for Willie Mullins.

The conditions of this race stipulate that none of the entrants can have been placed in the first three in a Grade One or Two. Blizzard Of Oz finished fourth in a graded race and I think that sets a high standard in here. Giving the weight away shouldn’t be an issue and I’m backing this one to win for the all-conquering Willie Mullins.

I’m with Answer To Kayf, who has very solid form. He should run his race once again and he’s the most likely winner. John Shinnick claims 7lbs too which is always a bonus. He can win once again for Terence O’Brien.

Answer To Kayf looks the most likely winner. His form is rock solid and he quickened well to win at Naas in February. His run at Cheltenham when fourth in the Martin Pipe was brilliant and he should win for Terence O’Brien.

AEROS LUCK remains with potential and shaped well on his return from a break at Naas last month. He gets the nod. Answer To Kayf, Blizzard of Oz and Black Bamboo make up the shortlist.

East India Express has an each-way chance in this. Nicky Henderson may not have been able to bring superstar Shishkin but this horse loves good ground. When he won his bumper he was a big price but the ground made all the difference. This fella has been targeted at this for some time.

Mistergif might just have a class edge on the rest of these. He ran well at Cheltenham and Aintree but it seems there’s more to come from him. He will appreciate the easier test and he’s the worthy favourite.

Mistergif is taking a drop in grade and that could be the difference. He ran really well in the Supreme at Cheltenham and he can build on that.

Willie Mullins and Paul Townend combined to take this last year with subsequent Grade 1 winning chaser Grangeclare West and they can repeat the feat with MISTERGIF, who has been highly tried on both starts since winning his maiden and should find this assignment easier.

Dancing City is my pick in this one. Paul Townend is keen to hang on to his Champion Jockey title and this mount will help. He was a good winner at Aintree and you could say he was a little disappointing at Cheltenham prior to that.

I’m a huge fan of Lecky Watson and I’m not going to desert him. He’s each-way value after finishing fifth to Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. He can show more improvement and Danny Mullins is on board. He will run a solid race.

Willie has a few in here and Paul Townend has opted for Dancing City. He probably disappointed at the start but he’s got his career back on track. I just wonder whether this is one race too many for him. I’m siding with Better Days Ahead for Gordon Elliott and I fancy him to build on his Martin Pipe win at Cheltenham.

DANCING CITY was most impressive at Aintree and, although behind Stellar Story in the Albert Bartlett on his penultimate outing, he’s capable of reversing the form with that rival under more suitable conditions. Better Days Ahead is another definite player on the back of success in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham.

The price of The Yellow Clay is wrong in my eyes. He’s overpriced after his sixth behind Jasmin De Vaux in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He ran a lot better than his finishing place that day. He’ll do better than that and he’s a great each-way price.

Jasmin De Vaux tops the betting and he’ll be hard to beat. He won at Naas in January and backed that up when winning the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He’s the best horse in this race.

JASMIN DE VAUX and Romeo Coolio filled the first two positions in the Champion Bumper and the obvious assumption is that they could fight this out too, with the former fancied to uphold the positions. Several arrive with the potential to do better, notably the unbeaten William Munny and Shuttle Diplomacy.

I think Galopin Des Champs’ effort in the Cheltenham Gold Cup might have left a mark. Fastorslow unseated his rider and obviously didn’t have too hard a race. Even though Fastorslow has been racing at a lesser standard than Galopin Des Champs he could be the fresher horse and he loves Punchestown.

Galopin Des Champs probably wins but I don’t like his price. I’m siding with Corach Rambler, who has obvious claims. He was third in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham before it didn’t go to plan in the Grand National. If he repeats what he did at Cheltenham, he can hit the frame.

Galopin Des Champs is a year older and he’s a stronger horse than when he lost last year at Punchestown. He’s become more relaxed. The Gold Cup at Cheltenham was a tough race but it always is. He’s in really good form at home and he looks well. He’ll get the job done.

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS had presumably taken too much out of himself in the Gold Cup when second to Fastorslow in this 12 months ago but he’s had an extra week to recover from his Cheltenham heroics this time around, so he’s fancied to reverse the placings with his old rival.

I like Lets Go Champ for Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead. This horse was a very expensive point-to-point purchase who’s not been that busy but he is smart on his day. He had a good run in a Limerick handicap last time and is proven on decent ground. This is a good horse who, with only 10st 5lb on his back, has to be respected.

I’m siding with Gordon Elliott’s The Goffer ahead of James Du Berlais for Willie Mullins. He’s dropping back in trip which will suit and he ran better than his fifth-placed finish at Cheltenham in the Ultima.

James du Berlais gave a good race in the Topham at Aintree last month but he just didn’t get home. I like The Goffer for Gordon Elliott. I don’t think he stays so dropping him to the 2m4f makes sense.

LETS GO CHAMP was unsuited by the slow pace when third at Limerick and this unexposed sort is potentially ahead of his mark in a race which promises to suit. The Goffer is well worth another try at this shorter trip and is next best ahead of Idas Boy, who has an excellent record fresh.

I’m on Air Of Entitlement in the lucky last. John Gleeson is no stranger to the winners’ enclosure at Punchestown having won on A Dream To Share last year. This daughter of Westerner looked really good when bolting up at Cork. She’s smart so it’s Air Of Entitlement for me.

Aurora Vega was a little disappointing at the Dublin Racing Festival but I don’t know how she turns the form around with Fleur Au Fusil. The latter won at Leopardstown in February, with Aurora Vega in fourth. I’m expecting the same result!

Impressive when landing each of her first 3 starts in bumpers last summer, AURORA VEGA was probably keener than ideal back from 4 months off when fourth behind stablemate Fleur au Fusil at Leopardstown in February. However, she remains one to be positive about and a better showing can be expected here.