Matty Sutcliffe has cast his expert eye over both Punchestown cards this weekend. He has four best bets across the weekend, including a selection in each in both Grade 1 contests.
1:05 Punchestown – Boodles Florida Pearl Novice Chase (Grade 2) (5yo+) – Bossofthebrownies 10/1 1pt WIN
Rocky’s Diamond sets the standard for a below par looking renewal of the Florida Pearl given he brings the best form over hurdles here and has always documented himself to be an above average chaser, but fences looked to bring the best out of BOSSOFTHEBROWNIES last time out who eventually broke his rules duck at the eighth time of asking.
The Ocovango gelding displayed evident promise in Maiden Hurdles over the last two seasons with form figures of 0332432, bumping into some useful sorts along the way. There was a suspicion he was becoming one who doesn’t find all that much in a finish, but those doubts were allayed when equipped with a tongue tie for his chase debut at Fairyhouse earlier this month. He was fluent throughout and jumped smartly, displaying a sharp turn of foot after two out to quickly put the race to bed.
He posted a 4lbs higher RPR there than Croke Park did when winning the race last season before landing the Drinmore next time out, and despite having something to find on hurdles form with some of these, he looks a different animal over fences and there isn’t a huge standard set to take this here.
2:10 Punchestown – Unibet Morgiana Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) – Irancy 4/1 1.5pt WIN
Lossiemouth wouldn’t have had the Morgiana on her radar until State Man was sadly ruled out for the season and given she had her limitations somewhat exposed over two miles last season, she may falter here.
IRANCY is the only credible opponent, as the fragile yet talented son of Saddex can rate highly in the two miler division this season providing the yard can keep him right. He was an eye-catcher on hurdles debut behind Firefox in 2023, but he wasn’t seen until 349 days later when a nine-length winner here last November when making all in impressive fashion to fend off the now 135 rated Will The Wise.
He made little impression in the Supreme when ridden in midfield, but he got back on track in a Grade Two at Fairyhouse to beat 4/5F Karniquet who shaped well in the Supreme. Irancy took his form to a new level when a nine length winner of the Grade One Champion Novice over course and distance and while Kopek Des Bordes evidently failed to give his running, he still put the 156-rated Salvator Mundi in his place who was coming off the back of a seven-length win in the Grade One Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree.
He posted an RPR of 157 there, a pound higher than anything that Lossiemouth has achieved, which suggests there shouldn’t be as much a price discrepancy between that pair particularly given Irancy is the more natural two miler, and I suspect Mark Walsh will attempt to make all and put Lossiemouth on the back foot immediately.
1:17 Punchestown (Sunday) – Frontline Security Grabel Mares Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+) – Feet Of A Dancer 1pt WIN SP
FEET OF A DANCER could only manage third in this race last season but she was only beaten five lengths and connections may have had one eye on preserving her mark for the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham, so there is reason to believe she can better that effort with her mark unlikely to shift down drastically for the Festival.
The daughter of Authorized improved in three subsequent starts, catching the eye in the Leopardstown Boxing Day Pertemps Qualifier having race keenly and not seen the trip out late on. She then stayed on from the clouds in the Pertemps Final to be beaten five lengths into fourth, with that form franked by the first and second who reversed the form with each other at Punchestown next time out, with the fifth also finishing third to that pair. She then stepped up to Grade Two level at Punchestown down in trip and was beaten only a length into third by the consistent Maxxum with smart mare Gala Marceau in second (second in G1 company next time out) and the fourth, Colonel Mustard, has won twice since latterly beating The Yellow Clay in Grade Two company.
If Feet Of A Dancer can pick up where she left off last season, then she’s more than entitled to better her effort in this contest and the fresh angle is of no concern give her record first time up after a break reads 113134.
3:00 Punchestown (Sunday) – John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) – Heart Wood 20/1 0.5pt EW 3 places
A cracking renewal of the John Durkan that is only lacking Galopin Des Champs, but still includes the big guns such as last year’s winner Fact To File, and some new recruits with the likes of the Brown’s winner Lecky Watson, Grand National victor Nick Rockett and perhaps one who’ll go under the radar in the form of HEART WOOD.
Fact To File could prove tough to beat if on song, but he only just scraped home from Spillane’s Tower last year who subsequently failed to get closer to the judge by seventeen lengths in his next three starts. Gaelic Warrior is using this as a prep for the King George so he mightn’t be all that tuned up, Fastorslow has to prove he can back up a 364 day layoff after last seen when fourth in this contest prior to a season long injury, and Inothewayurthinkin will surely have all roads lead to March once more.
Heart Wood has nine lengths to make up with Fact To File on the Ryanair form, but he did well to get as close as he did given he didn’t appear to take all that well to Cheltenham, making numerous fiddling mistakes before staying on strongly to be a clear second. A return to Punnchestown could see him shorten that deficit, as he was impressive here (albeit in Grade 3 company) on seasonal debut last month.
He should have no issue dropping to this trip with the ground likely to bring out his stamina, and if he can take another step forward then there’s every chance his fitness could prove a vital edge here over these seasonal debutants bar the 149-rated Senecia.
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