Punchestown Thursday

A few tough races to sort out tomorrow [:x]

3.40

Prince of Pirates was still travelling well behind Al Ferof at Cheltenham when last seen before that rival came to grief 2 out - Al Ferof went on to win 3 times since including the Supreme Novices hurdle at Cheltenham. When winning his debut bumper at Kempton he also had impressive Chelt winners Captain Chris and Bobs Worth in behind. Race fitness has to be taken on trust but it would be no surprise to see Prince of Pirates prove too good here.

But i will also be having a small bet on Our Victoria win and place at betfair sps
Colin Bowe is 3-6 around here this season showing a decent sp profit and his horses seem to be running into form(16/1 winner last week, 33/1 winner today)
Our Victoria is a bumper winner on good ground and an impressive maiden hurdle winner on yielding - dissapointed on soft when last seen last season at Cork when sent off favourite behind Knockfierna and is entitled to come on for her seasonal reappearence this season(came on a lot for her 1st run last season)

Prince of Pirates win at 9/4 BOG
Small win and place bets on Our Victoria at betfair sp(should be massive)


4.15

Gentle Alice beat Coiscorrig over 2m1f in a Novice Chase giving her 7lbs takin jockey claim into consideration at Leopardstown in February but meets that rival on much better terms tomorrow with Gentle Alice receiving 9lbs and is a much bigger price in the betting
She disappointed last time out at Fairyhouse behind Unhinged when a not unfancied 7/1 shot
When winning in February Uncle Tom Cobley finished 3l behind Gentle Alice giving her 4lbs but finished miles in front of her last time when Uncle Tom Cobley was receiving 1lb so i cant believe Gentle Alice gave her proper running last time

Back Gentle Alice e/w at 14/1 BOG


4.50

Penalty Kick for Garde Champetre, much the best of these, a winner on all four starts here with Nina on Borad, noting to beat him in this receiving weight from his only real rival

Back Garde Champetre if 1.6 or better on here, no bet if not

5.30

Could nt blame anyone for backing the super mare Quevega at a shade of odds on, fiercly impressive winner of her last 3 starts including this race last season where mourad was 4 1/2l behind
But i think there could be a bit of e/w value further down the list in the shape of Rigour Back Bob.
He has ground to make up on Voler la Vedette and Mourad on their meetings this season but i thought he ran an extremely eyecatching race at Cheltenham last time, got hampered 3 out and comletely lost his position before staying on well at the finishto go down by just over 5l behind Big Bucks with Mourad just 3l in front. Could run into a place here nbut i fuly expect Quevega to prove too good but at odds on is not for me

Back Rigour Back Bob e/w at 16/1 BOG (should go 20s)

6.05

Hard to look beyond Alfa Beat here in all honesty off a 29lb lower mark that his chase mark.
Ran a decent 4th at Cheltenham on his seasonal bow and fell over the National fences last time
Before that he has won his 5 previous starts including the Kerry National off a mark of 137 and won extremely easily on his last hurdle start, granted off a much lower mark but has improved massively since and i would be surprised to see him going off much shorter than his current 7/2

Back Alpha Beat at 7/2
And some small combo fcasts and tricasts involving 5/19/21

6.40

Probably looks a match on paper between Captain Chris(form is 1-2-1-1-1 on good ground) and Realt Dubh
Realt Dubh has about 8l to make up on their running at Cheltenham last time where Captain Chris was an impressive winner of the Arkle
Realt Dubh is a 3 time G1 winning Chaser in his own right (probably a lucky winner last time when Noble Prince fell)
Hopefully it doesnt turn into a muddling race and Saludos or Cruising Katie sets a fair pace and id have strong preference for Captain Chris to uphold the Cheltenham form and see on oddschecker that WH are going evens which looks fair to me

Back Captain Chris at evens

7.15

Looks a Nicky Henderson benefit

But im gonna chance a few bob on an outsider once more at Betfair sp win and place

Giants Quest ran a stormer i thought on debut behind Caolaneoin and was maybe a bit disappointing last time when fav and finishing 2nd behind Shadow Eile at Down Royal but that rival boosted the form when running a massive race at the Curragh in a very decent bumper when finishing 2nd to Samain with a lot of decent rivals in behind

Back Giants Quest at betfair sp win and place


A few speculative ones but we shall see

Whats the weather like now up there anyone know?

After p1ssin outa the heavens here for the last 2 hours