Advised Wednesday Afternoon 1st May

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 15:40

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Thereisnodoubt

Current Odds: 

 15/2 Paddy Power paying 6 places else 7/1 SportPesa & 10Bet both 6 places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Thereisnodoubt is a rather obvious selection but he couldn’t have won easier at Gowran Park just under a month ago. The handicapper has hit him with a 13lbs hike in the ratings but he is still on a winnable mark. Since switching yards to Shane Crawley last autumn he has improved to win twice showing his best form with cut in the ground. The step back up in trip at Gowran suited and he settled in well behind the front runners having won off the front over two miles at Clonmel. This trip shouldn’t be a problem and we have a horse in top form on side who has had plenty of time to recover from his win at Gowran Park.

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 15:40

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Rock De Baune

Current Odds: 

9/1 Paddy Power, SportPesa & 10Bet all  6 places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Rock De Baune should enjoy coming back a little in trip having run very well in a very good handicap hurdle at Leopardstown last time out over Christmas. The Pertemps winner Sire Du Berlais finished just behind while the first three home ran respectable races at Cheltenham bar Walk To Freedom. The latter did bounce back to finish third over fences at Fairyhouse last weekend. Rock De Baune looks well treated on a mark of 120 considering he beat none other than Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Klassical Dream in France as a three year old. We saw how good Klassical Dream is yesterday as he landed another Grade 1 so surely John Kiely has a good horse on his hands in Rock De Baune. Darragh O’Keeffe is an up and coming jockey who landed a nice touch for JP McManus at the Listowel Festival on Ballyoisin. Those carrying high weights have a good record in his conditional jockeys race so a weight of 11-10 is not a negative in this race.

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 17:30

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1 Point Win

Name of Horse to Back

Commander Of Fleet

Current Odds: 

 7/2 in places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Commander Of Fleet and Allaho are fighting it out at the top of the market. It is a bit surprising that the Albert Bartlett winner Minella Indo seems friendless in the betting having drifted out a point from 3/1. The rain softened ground looks a positive for Minella Indo so go figure! Anyways, Commander of Fleet is the choice having won his maiden hurdle on this course in November. He found the two miles on good ground too sharp in the Royal Bond hurdle before winning a mighty duel with Rhinestone at Leopardstown over 2m6f at Grade 1 level.

An excellent effort in the Albert Bartlett where he just couldn’t bridge the gap to Minella Indo who stole a few lengths rounding the bend into the straight. Hopefully, Commander of Fleet brings his A game again today as this easier course than Cheltenham should help him reverse placings with Minella Indo. The Ruby Walsh ridden Allaho is a big threat but has been running too freely in his past two races. He needs to learn to settle better over these staying trips but has a big engine for sure. 

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 18:05

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1 Point Win

Name of Horse to Back

Al Boum Photo

Current Odds: 

 7/4 Blacktype else 13/8 generally, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Willie Mullins is odds on to land this Gold Cup but with which of his three contenders? Bellshill won it last season and Willie said not to forget him yesterday as he is a fresh horse not running any race in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He let us down at Cheltenham which is obviously a course he doesn’t enjoy but despite his excellent Punchestown record I now believe Al Boum Photo is the best staying chaser of 2019. He was impressive winning at Tramore but even more so when winning the Gold Cup comfortably. We all remember what happened in the Novice Grade 1 chase at this festival last season when most unlucky not to collect.

I checked out that replay a few times and this horse has plenty of gears as he was ridden cold out the back by Paul Townend down the back yet made up ground on the leaders easily over the couple of fences approaching the straight. This race is just his ninth chasing start so he can progress again and the rain yesterday is another big positive for Al Boum Photo. Kemboy has surprised me a little with his excellent jumping out of soft ground when winning at the Aintree Festival. He has a huge engine and turn of foot but maybe that Aintree win will have taken the edge off him a little tilting the scales on the side of the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Redemption for jockey Paul Townend awaits with a clear round of jumping.

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 19:10

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Blast of Koeman

Current Odds: 

 13/2 Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook both 4 places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Blast Of Koeman has contracted a point or two in price having been tipped up by Tom Segal of Pricewise in the Racing Post last night. Nevertheless, he should be backed as he has been targeted at this race which he was most unlucky not to land last season. He jinked jumping the final fence causing his rider to lose his irons and was ridden that way up the straight. Robert Tyner is a dab hand with chasers and this horse loves it around Punchestown with a win and three runner ups from six course runs. He won nicely over hurdles here on New Years Eve. Blast Of Koeman has a very high cruising speed and will be ridden to pick them off late so the faster they go up front the better his winning chance off a 4lb higher mark than last year.

Racecourse & Time

Punchestown – 19:10

Advised Stake & Bet Type

1/2 Point Each Way

Name of Horse to Back

Sizing Granite

Current Odds: 

 6/1 with the bookies paying 4 places, use BOG bookies

Compare odds at http://www.oddschecker.com/horse-racing

Selection Reasoning:

Sizing Granite landed this contest in 2017 in taking fashion. He is a fine big chaser who despite his age of 11 years ran a big race at Ayr off a break when runner up to Born Survivor. The rain softened ground at Punchestown will be a big help to this old time who would have found it plenty quick for him at Ayr. His rating of 144 is 2lbs below his mark in 2017 and the booking of ace 3lb claimer Jonjo O’Neill is another positive. Last year he was tried in the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup and was bang there just behind the leaders over the second last. He stumbled on the landing side losing momentum but his stamina tank was empty at that stage. This intermediate trip is ideal and I think he will be very competitive today.

**Next Update Thursday Afternoon 2nd May ~13:00

As per usual you will be emailed as soon as new selections are updated online