Punchestown Horse Racing Tips – Saturday 29th April

Horse Racing Tips – Saturday 28th April

What a bumper day of racing we have with the ITV Racing cameras at Sandown for the Jumps finale meeting along with flat racing from Leicester and Haydock. We also have the final day of this years Punchestown Festival.

1.05 Sandown 2m (1m7f216y) bet365 Novices’ Championship Final Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)

Very competitive stuff and plenty likely to be in front of their mark still. Under Control did it well at Cheltenham 9 days ago but given Paul Nicholls excellent record in this race the choice is Killaloan. He has looked to be progressing with racing recently and was a comfortable winner of a 2m Ludlow handicap 37 days ago, he’s up 6lb for that but the new mark won’t be stopping him and Harry Cobden prefers.

Selection Killaloan

1.40 Sandown 1m7½f (1m7f99y) bet365 Celebration Chase (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)

Jonbon really adds an extra element of interest to this race. I think the stiff Sandown finish could suit him but he is plenty short enough given this is his first run in open company. He faces a tough opponent in the shape of Greaneteen who is fancied to make this a hattrick of successes in this race. He seems to save his best for Sandown and this will arguably have always been the main spring target.

Selection Greaneteen

2.15 Sandown 3m4½f (3m4f146y) bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)

The highly progressive Novice Chaser Coolvalla looks a more than fair price given his profile successful in 4 of his last 5 starts he still looked like he could have more to offer when winning at Exeter last time. The demands of this race should suit and he has struck up a good partnership with jockey Rex Dingle who is the saddle once again. Kittys Light looks to have a favourites chance following success in the Scottish National last weekend.

Selection Coolvalla  Each Way

William Hill are paying 1-2-3-4-5-6 places, claim your welcome offer here  

2.50 Sandown 2m6½f (2m6f164y) bet365 Oaksey Chase (Grade 2) (For The Menorah Challenge Trophy) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+)

This looks a tricky puzzle to solve with no real standout contender for me. Hewick ran well enough in the Gold Cup but I`m sure he would prefer the ground much drier to be at his most effective. Solo has always struck me as horse who is at his stamina limit over 2 ½ mile so it will be interesting how he gets on over further. Eldorado Allen ran well in a handicap at Aintree and is a solid grade 2 horse when at his best. He looks the one most likely to be suited by likely conditions and is a fair price

Selection Eldorado Allen

3.05 Leicester 1m (1m53y) Madri Excepcional King Richard III Cup Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-105)

This looks a really good opportunity for Al Mubhir to get back to winning ways. This progressive lightly raced 4-year-old ran well in enough in what looks a decent Lincoln this year and comes here off the same mark for that effort. William Buick does not make too many trips to Leicester but he does operate at a 28% strike rate at the course.

Selection Al Mubhir NAP

3.25 Sandown 2m4f (2m4f10y) bet365 Josh Gifford Novices’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+)

I have been convinced that Harpers Brook has a decent prize in him and while things have not really gone to pan the last twice, they both were very warm races and he is worth giving another chance to in these calmer waters. Ben Pauling has always held this gelding in decent regard and he might just be better going right-handed.

Selection Harpers Brook

3.45 Haydock 7f (6f212y) (Inner) Join Racing TV Now Handicap (Class 2) (4yo+)

Biggles has a really good record fresh winning on each of his 2 last starts when returning from a break of 60 days or more. He is suited to these types of courses and looked to be worthy of a try at this level based on how he finished last season with another second-place finish in a decent class 2 handicap. This ground arguably is more in his favour and he could get a nice run into the race sitting just behind the pace from a low draw. Rossa Ryan is in the saddle who has a 23% strike rate with the yards runners in the last couple of seasons.

Selection Biggles Next Best

3.50 Punchestown 2m3f (2m3f30y) Coolmore N.H. Sires Mogul Irish EBF Mares Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+)

Honeysuckle aside this looks as strong as the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham with many featuring once again. Love Envoi come out best of those in the line up and the English raider I sure to go close. Echoes In Rain was arguably the worst placed in that race with how the race played out and I have always been convinced she has a prize like this in her. The slightly easier test will be more to her liking and is the hood helps her energy reserve early she is the one to beat.

Selection Echoes In Rain

4.25 Punchestown 3m Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Grade B) (5yo+ 0-150)

Ramillies goes into handicaps for the first time of what could be a very lenient mark however I’m not certain the Willie Mullins runner is the toughest of horses for these large field handicaps. Sam Brown fell in the grand national 2 weeks ago which is not the ideal prep but given his trainers record with the horses he sends across here I think he must have come out of that okay and expected to be competitive. His run at Aintree last year and Wetherby at the start of this season suggest he can still be thereabouts of this sort of mark

Selection Sam Brown

5.00 Punchestown 2m Ballymore Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo)

Another race this week that Willie Mullins looks set to dominate and it looks hard to look too far away from Triumph Hurdle winner Lossiemouth.

Selection Lossiemouth

5.30 Punchestown 2m3f (2m3f30y) Fitzwilliam Sports Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+)

Another race this week in which it looks like Willie Mullins could potentially hold the key. Heia is a course and distance winner who is maybe the main hope however I thought Tax For Max posted a really a good effort here 4 days ago. Being turned out again quickly should be no concern as he has run well before off a short break and he really looks to be crying out for this type of trip in a well-run handicap now. Seddon bids for a four timer after success at Cheltenham and An Epic Song is also respected off his effort at the festival.

Selection Tax For Max

Good luck with your Punchestown and ITV Racing bets!