Punchestown selections Thursday 28th April
A real mix of races for Thursday at Punchestown including the premier Cross Country race of the week, the La Touche Cup and the Grade 1 Stayers Hurdle. However I am concentrating on three other races on the card. Egality Mans was placed for the each-way bet yesterday (6/1).
Punchestown 4.15: Sil Ver Klass
Considering the rain arrived at Fairyhouse last week prior to his race at that big meeting, fast ground specialist SIL VER KLASS put in a very decent performance to manage a 6l third to Mt Leinster. There are no such worries about the weather today and I expect Tony Martin’s charge to put in a strong effort off the same mark of 117.
A cosy winner on good ground back at Fairyhouse in the autumn, he is able to jump more fluently when the ground is less testing and that definitely held him back slightly last week. Nevertheless he travelled well for a long way and kept on pleasingly for a share of the place money. He takes on several of the same rivals today, but none will be better suited by the drying ground than my selection.
Punchestown 6.35: Blue Lord
The complexion of this race has changed dramatically with the scratching of Gentleman de Mee, but Willie Mullins can still take this with what is now the fastest horse in the race in BLUE LORD.
He came up slightly short when third in the Arkle at Cheltenham, but with the emphasis more on speed here, I think Blue Lord will be better suited by Punchestown. He looked set to win the Irish Arkle at Leopardstown much more easily then he eventually did – but I think that is because a sharp 2m is his ideal circumstance and the long run-in and slight climb at Leopardstown almost undid him.
Quite a few of his rivals here, such as Gabynako and Saint Sam might ideally want a stiffer test of stamina, but Blue Lord is a quick horse – he was the only one to give Appreciate It a race in the 2021 Supreme at Cheltenham before falling at the last. He might have too much natural speed for the others with the favourite no longer involved.
Punchestown 7.10: Hurricane Georgie & Lilith
Not that big a field for this mares handicap, but a wide open contest with 4/1 the field being offered.
HURRICANE GEORGIE loves the good ground and will relish conditions today, just as she did when putting up a career best at Fairyhouse earlier this month when just touched off in a listed contest. She has been hit with a 7lb rise for that, but jockey Rob James compensates for that with his 7lb claim. A good second to Embittered in a Grade 3 here in October, she might find this company a little easier to handle.
LILITH seemed to improve for a drop in trip at Newbury last time and her style of racing – to go hard from an early stage, should be ideally suited to this track on decent ground. Trainer Anthony Honeyball likes to send a few horses over to this meeting (4-13 have won or made the frame) and I think of his two runners, she will be better off on the good ground. She is only 3lbs higher for an 8l win at Newbury and whilst it would be no surprise to see something outpace her late on, she is a model of consistency for each-way purposes.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Sil Ver Klass – 4.15 Punchestown – 10/1 Bet365
1pt win – Blue Lord – 6.35 Punchestown – 15/8 Bet365
1pt win – Hurricane Georgie – 7.10 Punchestown – 4/1 general
1pt each-way – Lilith – 7.10 Punchestown – 17/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 4)
