Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips by Dave Stevos
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Preview
It was another day of ups and downs on Saturday and unfortunately, there was more of the latter. We did nick place money with Hitman (14/1), Sam Brown (14/1) and NB Thibault (20/1). However, the rest disappointed and Top Ville Ben bringing down Vieux Lion Rouge in the Becher was the icing on the cake. The top quality fare continues on Sunday with superb action in Ireland. Check out Dave Stevos’ Punchestown and Cork Sunday preview below.
1.10 Cork – Stayers Novice Hurdle (Grade 3)
An intriguing start to the day in this 24f contest for novice hurdlers. It should be lovely, safe NH ground at Cork on Sunday and there’ll be no excuses on that front for any of them. The market leader is Churchstonewarrior for Jonathan Sweeney and Denis O’Regan. This son of Mahler has looked progressive since returning from his summer break. A 19f bumper winner last season, he won his maiden hurdle at Sligo (25f yld) in October.
That was followed by a novice win at Thurles (23f gd/yld) where he lowered the colours of Idas Boy. There was half a length between them and Idas Boy is 3lbs better off now. However, I’m not sure that’ll be enough for him to reverse the form. Perfect Attitude was a good second at Galway (20f sft) last time behind a horse that has since placed in Listed company. He’ll need to improve for this longer trip to trouble the top two but that is very possible.
Sting In The Tail?
John Ryan runs two in this and Highland Sting has form with the two principals. This twice raced son of Scorpion ran a cracker on debut when he stayed on very nicely for 2nd behind Churchstonewarrior at Sligo (25f yld). He was getting 8lbs and he was 6L behind but the Sweeney horse had an experience advantage. Highland Sting didn’t jump well early so with that experience behind him, surely he can close the gap, even off 5lbs worse terms.
Ryan dropped Highland Sting back in distance for his next run at Thurles (23f yld). This time his jumping improved but the trip was too sharp. He was outpaced and could only stay on late for 6th, 15L behind Idas Boy. The step back up to 24f will suit this 5yo and the softer ground should make it more of a stamina test which is a plus for him too. The top two should fight out the finish but on bare form there isn’t much between the rest of them. At odds of 50/1, Highland Sting can hopefully nick a place.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: Highland Sting e/w @ 50/1
1.25 Punchestown – Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed)
A field of 10 mares will go in search of black type in this novice hurdle. The ground is yielding at Punchestown and with very little rain forecast it is unlikely to change. This looks a pretty ordinary race for the level and bar Choice of Words and Party Central at the top of the market, most of these have shown just an ordinary level of form. Given Gordon Elliott’s exploits on Saturday, it would be foolish to discount either of his. Party Central flopped last time though and Humble Glory only won an ordinary maiden last time out.
One that interests me at a bigger price is Ailie Rose for the Crawfords and Patrick Corbett. This daughter of Fame And Glory has run well on three of her four career starts. The form of her first two decent runs isn’t up to much but she shaped very nicely last time out in a 22f maiden won by Hollow Games at Down Royal. She finished 6L behind the winner in 2nd and she was 17L ahead of the 3rd. Hollow Games scored in a Grade 3 next time out and while has hasn’t been given a mark yet, he’ll easily be rated 130+.
The trip for that race was 22f and it looked like Ailie Rose didn’t quite see it out. She was bang there with the winner jumping the second last though and today’s shorter distance should suit her on that evidence. Her debut 2nd came on yielding, so there are no ground concerns. On that last piece of form, her rating of 104 may well underestimate her. She could improve again today and at odds of 40/1, perhaps she can nick some black type.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: Ailie Rose e/w @ 40/1
1.45 Cork – Mares Novice Chase (Grade 2)
With Riviere D’etel a likely non runner after winning at Navan, this is a race where two horses stand out again. 2020 Cheltenham winner Concertista and Magic Daze head the market and they have obvious claims. Concertista goes well fresh so her absence isn’t a worry. However, she has yet to jump a fence in public unlike her main market rival.
De Bromhead’s daughter of Doyen found 18f at Galway too far on her chasing debut but she made mincemeat of her rivals over today’s C&D a week ago. If Concertista runs to her best hurdles form, she’ll be hard to beat. However, Magic Daze could just be a much better mare over the bigger obstacles and it’ll be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Razzle Could Dazzle
Razzle Dazzle Love is another very interesting sort on her second chase start for Tom Gibney. This 7yo daughter of Winged Love was an impressive bumper winner at Galway last season (16f yld). The good ground/trip were excuses for her next two efforts but she looked a potential graded mare in the making when hammering Hamundarson by 23L in a maiden hurdle at Punchestown.
She admittedly ran poorly on her last two starts of her campaign at Graded level but maybe she was just feeling the effects of a long season. It was a lot more like it last time on her seasonal/chase debut at Galway (18f sft). She finished a fine 2nd to Global Equity, beat just 2L off levels, and she had Robinnia 2L back in 3rd.
Razzle Dazzle Love is 7lbs worse off with Robinnia here but Gibney’s horse lacked a recent run and had no chase experience so granted normal improvement, she should uphold that form. I am hoping that James O’Sullivan goes hard from the start here and over this shorter trip, she could be hard to peg back if she gets loose. I don’t think she should be near treble the price of Robinnia and at odds of 28/1, a small e/w interest is advised.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: Razzle dazzle love e/w @ 28/1
2.00 Punchestown – John Durkan Chase (Grade 1)
The big one, and what a race it is. This is as good as it gets away from Cheltenham. Ten top class animals will go to post in this year’s John Durkan and it is a star studded cast. Top of the bill is Envoi Allen. The hype horse of 2020/21 flopped when it mattered most at Cheltenham and Punchestown. However, Henry De Bromhead’s charge looked back to his old self at Down Royal and it will be fascinating to see if he is able to stamp his authority on this stellar field.
Fakir D’oudairies is a grand horse and he is next best in the betting. He always turns up in these big races and more often than not, he gives his running. Joseph O’Brien’s son of Kapgarde probably just lacks the class of the very best around. However, if his rivals aren’t at their best, he’ll be ready to pick up the pieces.
Allaho announced his arrival as a top tier chaser with his spectacular win in the Ryanair. He had Fakir 12L behind and Tornado Flyer 12.5L behind and if he repeats that, they won’t see which way he went. However, he ran a stinker in this last season and it remains to be seen if Patrick Mullins can get as good a tune out of him as Rachael Blackmore did. He lacks a run too so for me, he is best watched.
Jumping Issues
Asterion Forlonge has a serious engine. Jumping issues blighted him last season but he finally delivered the goods when winning a valuable handicap at Punchestown off 152. He is undoubtedly talented enough to be running here, but will his jumping hold up and will he need the run? Willie Mullins’ charge will have his supporters but there are too many question marks for me.
Last year’s runner up Tornado Flyer looks a massive price at 25/1. We were on him that day and he found just Min too good by 1L. However, he did have the benefit of a recent run on that occasion. This year he comes into the race fresh but he has won first time up twice before so that isn’t really that big of a negative.
He has never run a bad race at this track (form figures 11422) and if he is ever going to win a big one, this is going to be it. The son of Flemensfirth has just 0.5L to find with Fakir on Cheltenham form yet he is eight times his price. Darragh O’Keefe is an excellent pilot and 18/1 is just too tempting to turn down. An each way interest on Tornado Flyer is advised.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: Tornado Flyer e/w @ 18/1 NB
2.20 Cork – Hilly Way Chase (Grade 2)
Just six go to post and it is all about Energumene. Willie’s winning machine is 6/7 in his career and 4/4 in chases. Only Captain Guinness managed to get closer than 10L to him and he ran a nice race in the Tingle Creek. If he completes, he wins. Notebook should chase him home but there is no juice in his odds of 9/2. This is a race to just watch and enjoy. No bet.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: No Bet
2.35 Punchestown – Beginners’ Chase (4yo+)
Ferny Hollow is odds on to land this 17f Beginners’ Chase on his chasing debut. He won the Champion Bumper in 2020 and he beat Bob Olinger on his only start over timber last November. That was his last start of the season due to a stress fracture. The son of Westerner won a P2P so that lessens concerns about the bigger obstacles and he’ll be a tough nut to crack, if he retains all his ability.
The only slight concern is yielding ground. He was beat in similar conditions at Fairyhouse last season and it was heavy for his win last time at Gowran. Couer Sublime is a decent horse on his day and he’ll like the ground. However, he is having his first run back, as are Thedevilscoachman, Gentleman De Mee and You Raised Me Up. The more fancied horses usually come to the fore in these races and nothing jumps out at bigger odds. Another no bet race.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: No Bet
2.50 Cork – Handicap Hurdle (0-123)
The one I’m taking a chance on here at big odds is Dr Mikey. This fella isn’t getting any younger but he showed there was still some life left in those legs with a decent effort in a C&D handicap on his first run of the season. That effort came off 130 and he was 4th, beat 17L by the easy winner Dads Lad. He wasn’t as good on his last start off 129 at Fairyhouse (20f gd) but every cloud has a silver lining and the handicapper has dropped him 4lbs to 125.
Margaret Flynn’s charge often saves his best form for this track. He has had nine runs here in total and over 2 miles he boasts form figures of 121124. This fella is a law unto himself and he only has one way of going – fast and from the front. A few years ago he was beating horses like Stratum and A Plus Tard but he was off the track for almost two years after his last win. He has had four runs since coming back last Spring and that Cork one last month was his best. If he is going to win again, it’ll most likely be over this C&D and at 33/1, he is worth a small interest e/w.
Punchestown and Cork Sunday Tips: Dr Mikey e/w @ 33/1 (5 Places)
3.05 Punchestown – Handicap Chase (0-123)
Castlegrange is the one I want to be with here. James Dullea’s son of Arcadio has only won once from 15 starts but he has more ability than that. His win came on heavy at Thurles back in March in a Beginners’ Chase. However, I think he is better on a sounder surface and the yielding ground at Punchestown should be right up his alley. The run that makes him of interest for me in this was his 5.5L 4th behind My Oakclahome at Tramore in April (21f gd/yld).
He just got a bit outpaced 4f out in that race and it looked like he’d appreciate going up in trip judging by how he kept on all the way to the line. He finished just a length behind Batcio who was running off 115 and he is now rated 130. Castlegrange was also running off 115 and he is 2lbs lower today.
It was too soft when he tried this trip at Wexford on his next start but he shaped okay on his last chase outing at Naas a month ago (20f yld). He finished 6th, beat 15L, but he was hampered at the 2nd last and it was a strange ride. Brian Hayes takes over from a 7lb claimer today and hopefully that last run was designed to tee him up for today. At odds of 20/1, Castlegrange is the e/w NAP of the day.
