Punchestown Wednesday

3.40

Captain Paulie won at Cork last time on good ground beating Old Theatre Royal (won at Ballinrobe 3 days later) by a short head even though he jumped the last 2 very poorly.
That was a big step up from his debut run in handicap company where he seemed to struggle in the softer ground at Wexford. Up 7lbs for that but the jock takes 4lbs off here and can go in again

Captain Paulie worth an e/w bet for me at around the likely 10/1 mark


4.20

Empire Levant likely to be a warm enough favourite around the 7/4 mark but could nt be havin it at that price. Will need to settle better early to win.

Street Entertainer showed a massive improvement in form last time at Chepstow when absolutely hacking up when backed off the boards(13-2 into 11/4). That was a massive step forward in form from his 1st 2 runs over hurdles and hopefully there is more improvement to come with Tony McCoy taking the ride

Street Entertainer e/w if 9/2 or better, no bet if not

4.55

An interesting race in prospect here which is added to by the 2 impressive Aintree winners Battle Group and Saint Are makin the trip over
But im willing to give Mossey Joe one more chance here, a massively impreesive winner of his first 4 lifetime starts - 2ptps, 1 hunter Chase and a 3m G3 hurdle at Cork where he beats Fists of Fury unextended by 9l
Fists of Fury was 4th at Aintree last time behind Saint Are beaten around the same distance but Mossey Joe had a lot more in the tank that day at Cork
Mossey Joe was a big disappointment last time though when well backed in the G2 Christmas hurdle at Leopardstown behind Mourad which was a much stronger race than this(i think anyway!) He travelled like an absolute dream this day (traded 1.97 i/r) before emptying very quickly up the straight, im always willing to forgive one bad run and think he will go close here

Back Mossey Joe at around 9/1 on here and green up around 3 in running(as he usually travels extremely well and should look good at some stage with PC on board) if he drops that low


5.30

nb

The race of the day here which can be easily narrowed down to 3 runners in Kauto Star, Nacarat and Kempes
Could nt blame anyone for backing Kauto Star at 11/8 or that way but i just cant foget his lacklustre performance in the King George - ran much better at Chelt last time though
Nacarat was a good winner of the Totesport Bowl at Aintree last time and just looking at the race he could once more be given a very easy lead here and wont be easy to peg back

But my preference is for Kempes who disappointed at Chelt last time when he never travelled at all when not unfancied
An impressive winner of the Irish Hennessy in February and is a Course and Distance winner when winning the G1 Novice Chase here last season

Back Kempes e/w at 4/1 and hope the 8 run

Probably 1.01 to be 7 or less runners tho

6.05

Nap

Am quite surprised how short Waaheb is - as impressive as he has been in his victories- i think this is a decent step up in class for him even though he receives weight from most of his rivals

In the 3 bumpers he has won - Jenari is the only horse to have come out and won since - in all 21 horses have run out of the 3 bumpers and only 2 have even been in the money

The impressive Aintree bumper winner in Steps to Freedom - the Cheltenham bumper 3rd and 4th in Aupcharlie and Go All the way - Lovethehigherlaw who should improve massively for the better ground - Caolaneoin, eycatcher on debut and nice winner last time

Im quite happy to lay Waaheb at 5/4 here

6.40

Lottery! Scotsirish was only beaten 2 3/4l by Big Zeb in the G1 Dial a Bet Chase over Christmas and was beaten just over 3l in the G2 Clonmel Oil Chase behind Tranquil Sea-if back to the form of either of those could take a lot of beating here but has ground to make up on Osana from their meeting last time but hopefully gets a more forceful ride this time

Scotsirish small win bet at 8/1

7.15

Faha got a horrible ride last time when beaten into 2nd at Clonmel but that was a poor race i thought
But i think there could be a lot of e/w value in backing Crocus Bay here at around 6/1 hopefully or that way

Ran a very good race at Leopardstown over Christmas when going down by just over 3l to the highly thought of Bold Optimist
Felix Younger 2nd that day won nto

and with normal improvement should give a good account here

Crocus Bay e/w at 5/1 or better


If only it was that easy