Punchestown Saturday Preview

The first race of the day is the Novices Hurdle and the Charles Byrnes trained Poseidon is the horse that catches our eye off the back of what he has done this season.

The five year old gelding has some of the stand out form on offer in this contest with back to back seconds over hurdles.

His latest run at Gowran was when he finished just in behind the Gordon Elliott trained Abacadabras that has the Champion bumper form and is unbeaten on both his starts to date over hurdles.

If coming on for his early experiences over hurdles he will not be far away at all.

Faugheen the machine is back for another season and in the Naas Oil Beginners Chase over two and a half miles the superstar makes his debut over fences.

The nine time Grade One winner over hurdles is trying himself over the bigger obstacles and could turn out to be just as good as he was over flights.

The Willie Mullins trained 11 year old has seen it all in the sport to being one of the best in the world to suffering some terrible injuries but hopefully the jump to fences will see him get back to his best.

The Grade Two Craddockstown Novice Chase over two miles looks a hot contest and we fancy the Gigginstown owned Notebook for Henry De Bromhead to run a cracker.

The six year old made a superb start to life over fences when landing a Beginners Chase over course and distance and the second that day has since gone on to frank the form.

He was a smart hurdler last season but now looks built for chasing and could be a smart prospect for a thriving yard.

The feature race on the card is the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle and in this five runner event we fancy the Willie Mullins trained Saldier.

This five year old gelding has been off the track for some time but if retaining his ability has to be respected if stepping into this contest which was the plan last year before his nasty injury.

With a big target of the Champion Hurdle Mullins sent Saldier to Naas for his seasonal debut last year in the Grade Three Fishery Lane Hurdle.

The gelding had jumped lovely all the way round before coming up to the last alongside Espoir D'Allen, who landed the Champion Hurdle at the 2019 festival, but unfortunately taking a nasty fall when he looked sure to take the race.

That form alone is a huge thing to look at if being able to replicate it but after the fall it was revealed Saldier had broken his nose and was not raced again throughout the season.

Mullins admitted he could of raced last term but has been saved for this season and is in rude health ahead of this seasonal return.

The 2 mile 4 furlongs maiden hurdle sees a huge field go to post but the stand out entry is the Willie Mullins trained Blue Sari.

The JP McManus owned four year old started his career back in January of this year in a two mile bumper at Gowran where he showed clear staying ability to land the contest with ease.

He was then noticed by his owner and was bought for hefty a sum and was set for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham with still plenty to prove compared to many in the field only having one run.

At the festival he ran a stormer laying down the gauntlet to Envoi Allen making the five year old work harder than ever to hold on up the hill but proved from just two starts that there was not much between them.

Blue Sari this season will be able to gain more experience, have more outings in the run up to Cheltenham and looks to have a big future in this one.

Our final selection from Punchestown on Saturday comes in the Goffs INH Flat Race and The Big Getaway for Willie Mullins again looks tough to beat.

The five year old gelding looks more of a horse for obstacles but has been very consistent in his bumpers so far and should make it third time lucky in this one.

He has finished second on both his bumper outings to date with the first behind Fiddlerontheroof for Colin Tizzard who looks a big prospect over hurdles and latest behind a smart type from Noel Meade's yard and it sets the standard in this race.