The Irish Angle With Paul Callaghan - Saturday Punchestown Tips

Paul Callaghan | @pgcallaghan

Sat 30 Apr 2022 08.47

Punchestown 14:10

Regina Dracones

J: Jack Foley

T: Thomas Gibney

N/A

Age: 7

Weight: 10-10

OR: 127

Days: 49

A competitive handicap chase with 15 runners taking their chance, it may pay to side with the Thomas Gibney trained Regina Dracones ridden by Ireland’s champion conditional Jack Foley who takes 5lbs off 10st 10lbs.

The selection is three victories from six starts over fences to date. With the exception of unseating her rider and finishing mid-division at Naas towards the end of January, her form is solid and should be in with a shout turning for home.

There is rain forecast and every drop that falls will greatly enhance her chances.

Form: 11712View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
12/03/23	NAA	24.5	Sft	10-3	F
04/02/23	MUS	31.5	GS	11-2	PU
27/12/22	CHP	30.5	Sft	10-7	F
04/12/22	FAI	29	Sft	10-7	5
27/11/22	NAV	24	Sft	9-12	F

Punchestown 15:25

Donkey Years

J: Mark Walsh

T: E McNamara

N/A

Age: 8

Weight: 10-10

OR: 128

Days: 12

A chance is taken on Donkey Years, who just failed to reward favourite backers over the extended 3mile trip at Fairyhouse last time out.

Prior to that he ran well to finish third in a similar event, over the shorter trip of 2m5f at Leopardstown at the beginning of March.

He’s a hold up performer who probably needs everything to fall right for him but is the choice of the JP McManus owned runners, of jockey Mark Walsh for trainer Eric McNamara.

Form: 65232View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
10/04/23	FAI	29	Sft	9-9	PU
26/01/23	GOW	25	Sft/Hy	10-9	PU
27/12/22	LEO	24	Y	10-11	UR
23/10/22	LIM	24	Sft	10-12	3
23/09/22	LIS	22	Gd	11-10	9

Punchestown 17:05

Spirit Of Legend

Mr D Roche

Henry De Bromhead

Age: 5

Weight: 12-0

OR: N/A

Spirit Of Legend fetched £100,000 at the sales in Cheltenham last December after finishing second in a point-to-point in Loughbrickland on his sole start, and gets the nod to make a winning rules debut. The winner of that point-to-point, incidentally was having his third start and has since joined the Willie Mullins’ stable.

The selection represents the trainer jockey combination who took the bumper at Punchestown on Thursday.