Punchestown Friday

Sorry bout the lack of posts in the last two days, been up to my tits in college/study etc etc

Should be a good days racing today, but incredibly difficult to find a couple of winners.

Believe it or not, the rain helps us, even if the suit gets a bit wet!

OK, first things first...forget about the opener. Stupid race.

Moving onto the 4.20. The EVENTUS MARQUEES HANDICAP CHASE and try as I might, I just cant get away from Hold The Pin. He was travelling sweetly when he tipped up 3 out at Uttoxeter in the Midlands National on the day after Cheltenham - backed him!!
He also has fair course form, he probably would have won this last year but for a fall at the last, and was second in a handicap hurdle here in February.
But most importantly, he'll handle the conditions. He has winning form when the words soft and heavy are in the going description, and with all that rain around its gonna take some getting.

Selection Hold The Pin EW @7/1

In the 4.55, The BETFAIR NOVICE HANDICAP CHASE, Jaamid is wortth a small each way investment in the hope that he's none the worse for his 2nd to the smart Jayo in a novice chase earlier this week. Meeting Jayo 16lbs worse than he would have in a handicap, it was a really good run to finish only 4 lengths behind the well fancied winner in second.
Back in handicap company, Jaamid can hopefully can follow up his recent Fairyhouse win and return to the winners enclosure.

Selection Jaamid EW @ 10/1

The big one is next, The RABOBANK CHAMPION HURDLE, which sees Cheltenham scorers Quevega and Punjabi lock horns, as well as Aintree score Solwith, not to mention Hardy Eustace, Jered, Muirhead and the rest.
Its a very interesting race, and one which I have a particularly strong fancy in the shape of Aintree hurdle winner Solwith.
Ultra progressive, this one's form all season has worked out extremely well, 2nd to Nineteeth Minute in a listed race (followers of this blog know how that worked out) before winning the Red Mills Hurdle, and going on to beat Fiveforthree who franked the form in the Grade 1 here yesterday. The ground conditions will hold no fears to Solwith, and if anything they will bring his proven stamina into play.

Selection Solwith win @ 3/1

Muirhead could be the danger here with conditions to suit and I will be having a saver on the Meade horse, if anyones looking for something at a bigger price.

In the 6.05, The LAND ROVER CHAMPION NOVICE HURDLE, Mikael D'Haguenet will take all the beating, and with conditions to suit, should have far too much for stablemate Cousin Vinny.
End of story, enough said...I'll be shocked if he doesn't win here.

Selection Mikael D'Haguenet win @ 4/6

The 6.40 is the STAR BEST FOR RACING COVERAGE NOVICE HURDLE and Copper Bleu gets the nod. His form included a 14l maiden win from Riverside Theatre, who wasthird to Hurricane FLy here on Tuesday, a fourth placing in the Supreme Novices Hurdle behind Go Native. He also ran a cracker at Aintree, and on all known form, he is the best horse in the race.
If Zaarito bounced back to his best form he'd take this in a canter, but there are doubts if he can do that after a couple of uncovincing runs this season.

Selection Copper Bleu win @ 15/8

The two bumpers look horrible, and its best to hold fire with the cash until tomorrow.

Fingers crossed we'll have a good day,
Happy Punting,
Ian