Punchestown Sunday Preview - 14/02/21

The first race of the day at Punchestown on Sunday is the Cross Country Chase over 3m1f and Ballybroker Bridge for Peter Maher takes the eye.

Although now 14 years of age in these types of races you need horses that have been there and done it all and this gelding is certainly that.

He has been twice a winner of this event in the past and also finished second in the contest last season behind the smart Neverushacon for Jessica Harrington.

He made his seasonal reappearance this term over the same course and distance and again had to settle for second behind Jessica Harrington's horse.

Although he is giving weight around to the whole field, he is proven in this sphere and has the superb Jamie Codd doing the steering.

The Listed Novice Hurdle over two miles come next and it sees a superb field of runners head to post with the Thedevilscoachman for Noel Meade.

The five year old for owner JP McManus looks to be a very exciting horse for the future, being a smart bumper horse and converting that to his hurdles runs this term.

He made his debut over flights in November and got off the mark straight away in a maiden event at Cork.

He then went to Leopardstown at Christmas and finished a good fifth in the Grade One Champions Novice Hurdle behind Appreciate it and Ballyadam.

Thos two horses have since gone on to frank that form finishing first and second in another Grade One at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Thedevilscoachman also franked the form of that race last time out by getting back to winning ways in a Novice Hurdle at Navan, seeing off a nice type for Gordon Elliott.

This gelding looks the pick of the bunch on form and should be able to step up to Listed company.

Lifetime Ambition for Jessica Harrington is our selection in the first division of the Maiden Hurdle over 2m4f and this gelding has some strong form in defeat.

The six year old has ran four times this season, making his debut over hurdles in November at Punchestown and finishing a good second behind Fighter Allen.

He then went to Navan in December and again had to settle for second behind Clondaw Secret for Gordon Elliott.

Again stepping into another classy maiden, Lifetime Ambition could only finish fourth of 17 at Leopardstown over Christmas behind Stattler for Willie Mullins, who has since gone on to frank the form by placing in a Grade One event at the DRF.

Over two miles last time out she bumped into another nice horse for Mullins in Frere Tuck and with not as good opponents in this race today and the step back up to 2m4f, he is the one to beat.

Willie Mullins has had a superb season to date with his novice hurdlers and he looks to have another special one in the making here with Jungle Bookie.

The seven year old is slightly late to the party but what he showed us in November on his rules debut in a bumper at Clonmel was a sight to behold.

The Malcolm Denmark owned gelding went on to land a 10 runner bumper by close to four lengths and if taking to hurdles on debut looks hard to beat off the back of that.

Our Penultimate selection at Punchestown on Valentines Day comes in the two mile Novice Chase and Duc D'allier for Joseph O'Brien is an improving type.

The eight year old has been a hard horse to train for the yard picking up injury problems that has only seen him run once since 2018.

However, after 946 days off the track the gelding returned in January at Fairyhouse in a similar event and went on to trounce the field by close to nine lengths.

He will be sure to come on for that run having been off for such a long time and the sings are very good for the future with this horse.

The final selection comes in the feature race of the day, the Punchestown Grand National Trial Handicap Chase over 3m4f and Discordantly for Jessica Harrington could be a big player.

The seven year old gelding has some decent form from earlier in the season, winning on seasonal debut at Galway by 13 lengths and then backing that up with a superb fourth at Navan in the Troytown Handicap Chase.

Since then things have not gone to plan, finishing ninth of 22 runners in the Paddy Power Chase over Christmas and then unseating Robbie Power last time out in the Thyestes.

The gelding has proven in these races that he has got a big run in him and at 10/1 we believe he is worth taking a chance on.