The final day of 2022 with the Challow Hurdle at Newbury the feature race of the day. The best and most competitive handicap of the day is the Tara hurdle which was lost due to the cold weather at Navan before Christmas. It has been saved to be run at Punchestown today with 19 runners declared.

Captain Conby ran some good races last season like when winning here from Bois De Chamart over a furlong further almost a year ago. He travels and jumps like a dream but doesn’t find much off the bridle. This season he started off over fences but quickly reverted to hurdles and ran a good race last time out at this course. He just got outstayed on his first run over three miles with the winner Shewearsitwell franking the form winning a mares Grade 3 on Thursday. Captain Conby goes well at Punchestown and with the first lap on the inner course it suits a good travelling type like himself. A mark of 133 looks fine and he should be bang there over the final hurdle.

Bread and Butter has run some good races at Punchestown which is his trainers local course. He almost caused an upset at the Punchestown festival when second to Camprond off a light weight when sent off a 66/1 poke. Bread And Butter gets in here off a mark of 121 which is 4lbs less than when second in the 50k Grade A hurdle at the Punchestown festival. He must have a decent chance carrying 10-0 with Conor Smithers claiming off 7lbs.

The favourite Hgranca des Thaix won well at Galway and has to overcome a 10lb hike in the ratings but will be hard beat such is the form of the Barry O'Connell stable.

Punchestown 2:32

0.5 point each way Captain Conby 9/2 Skybet 6 places else 5/1 Paddy Power 5 places.

0.5 point each way Bread And Butter 25/1 Skybet 6 places else 25/1 generally 5 places.

Best of Luck, Nicky