The first selections on the fourth day of the 2023 Punchestown festival come in the second race of the day which is the Grade A Novice Handicap Chase and with a big field going to post we have dutched the race.
The first runner is the Emmet Mullins trained So Scottish who on a reduced Irish mark in this event could potentially be well handicapped.
A horse that struggled over hurdles and has really turned a corner since going over fences, making his chase debut in October at Tipperary when getting off the mark of 2m3 1/2f.
He saw off the talented Railway Hurricane by seven lengths who has since franked the form for Gavin Crowell when a 3/4 length second to the well backed Unanswered Prayers at Cheltenham last weekend giving weight away.
So Scottish was next seen also giving the form a boost at Carlisle at the end of October when taking a Novices' Chase under a penalty and making his handicap debut over fences off 135 he could be incredibly well in.
Sent to Ascot for his next start in November, he stayed on well to chase home Grade Two winner Boothill and having been crying out for a step up in trip he got that at the Cheltenham festival and off 8lb higher in the Plate Handicap Chase he ran a decent race to finish seventh of 23.
He now races off 5lb lower in this event and off a mark of 138 could see him well in.