Punchestown Sunday Preview - 13/02/22

The first race of the afternoon is the 3m1f Cross Country Chase and the horse we like for this is the Enda Bolger trained Shady Operator.

In the colours of JP McManus the nine year old looks extremely likeable getting weight off the other runners near the top of the market.

Having been up and down during the last few years, his stand out piece of form came two runs ago when landing a three mile Cross Country Chase around Punchestown.

Having recently had another blow out when only beating one home in a 17 runner handicap hurdle, two places behind Tiger Roll, it will have been used as a prep run for this event and if wanting to go close at the festival, he will have to be in the frame in this.

The second event of the day is the two mile Novice Chase and the horse that takes the eye for us is the Martin Brassil trained You Raised Me Up at the foot of the weights.

This nine year old is very lightly raced for his age, being a smart hurdler last term, winning two decent Maiden Hurdles before finishing 10th at the Cheltenham festival in the County Hurdle.

This season he has been sent over fences and at Punchestown in December made an impressive debut to finish a good fourth behind Ferny Hollow, Coeur Sublime and Thedevilscoachman.

The front two that day have since gone on to frank the form and now having his second start getting weight off the field, he looks the value bet over a similar course and distance.

One of the feature events of the afternoon is the Grand National Trial Handicap Chase over 3m4f and we are giving another chance to Alfa Mix.

The six year old is weighted to go really well in the event off a mark of 136 and overall looks to have been primed for the race.

A very smart hurdler winning two decent events and also placing in a competitive handicap, he was last seen over flights at the Cheltenham festival finishing a good seventh in the big fielded Coral Cup.

Sent chasing last season he has been seen five times and although breaking his duck has put up some superb performances, not finishing outside the top four.

Finishing behind Entoucas and Blackbow on chase debut, he then finished fourth again behind the smart Captain Guinness and backed that up with a third behind Aramax at Fairyhouse.

Upped in trip at Galway for his first run this term he slightly needed the run but was behind some nice types, but next time out put up a career best over fences to finish a neck second to Fully Charge on handicap debut.

4lb higher on a mark of 137 he went into the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at at Christmas and ultimately flopped when well backed.

Now 1lb lower we are giving him another chance and he looks a good each way bet.

The penultimate selection of the afternoon comes in the feature Listed two mile Novice Hurdle and Deploy The Getaway for the inform Willie Mullins.

The seven year old gelding was an expensive £200,000 purchase by Cheveley Park Stud and he now looks to be finding his best form.

Winning a P2P in February 2019 by 20 lengths, he made his rules debut in March last year and finished a good second learning a bit for the experience.

This season he was given his hurdles debut at Gowran Park and finished second behind a fair type for Gordon Elliott and then backed that up with a third in a 21 runner Maiden Hurdle.

Having learnt a lot for both those experiences he got off the mark last time out in extremely taking style at Down Royal, winning the race by 18 lengths.

If improving from that, which he should, he has a big chance on Sunday.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the bumper over two miles and with plenty of unraced horses being let loose, we are going with the more experienced horse, Bellaney Lord.

The Simon Munir & Isaac Souede owned gelding has been seen once to date, finishing second of 18 behind a nice type for Willie Mullins.

Only a half length down that day he should improve for that run and could be something special.