Our solid start to 2025 continued on Saturday. Jukebox Joker just about got the place at 12/1 and Up For Parol won easily enough at the same odds. Captains Nephew went too hard in the middle part of his race and didn’t get home and Riot’s run was a non-event. On Sunday we have the 2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer meeting, hopefully we can land another winner. Preview and tips are below.
12.25 – Beginners’ Chase (5yo+)
Just like at Fairyhouse on Saturday, the recently thawed
ground is going to be taxing at Punchestown. Gavin Cromwell is flying at the moment
and he has the fav here with Shantou Princess. The ground is going to be very
different than when she won here over hurdles in December but she won her P2P
on heavy and she’s related to winning chasers so it would be no surprise were
she to win.
The much more experienced Brucejack looks a danger. He has already
had ten starts over fences, finishing second twice, and he was a very creditable
fifth in the Porterstown at Fairyhouse against seasoned handicappers on his
last start. This drop in trip will suit him and if I was backing one at the head
of the betting, I’d take a chance on him.
It is hard to make a case for anything at a price here as
the majority of the outsiders look like they will be aimed at handicaps in the future.
No bet.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: No Bet
12.55 – Skybet Novice Chase (Grade 3)
If the ground was nicer I’d be taking a chance on
Ifiwerearichman here. He did win his maiden hurdle on soft but his two best
efforts have come on good over hurdles and on yielding here over fences when he
slammed Jasko Des Dames by 6.5l.
Lecky Watson won nicely on his chasing debut at Naas last
month and he has plenty of form in the mud, unlike Down Memory Lane, who floundered
on testing ground at Sandown last month. However, I'm not sure this slight drop in trip
is ideal for the Mullins’ horse and he ran poorly over hurdles here last season so it might be worth having a small go at the
Elliott reverse forecast.
Farren Glory got off the mark at the second attempt over
fences on good ground at Naas last November. He ran another sound race when
beaten 6l into second by Touch Me Not in a Grade 2 here last time out, shaping
as though a step up in trip might suit. Two of his four career wins have come
on heavy ground.
His stablemate Search For Glory ran really well at this trip
behind Impaire Et Passe in a Grade 1 at Limerick last month. Beaten a head here
over 3m by Stellar Story in a Grade 2 on his penultimate start, we know he
handles the track and ground and he’ll likely be ridden positively. Given the negatives
regarding the other three, a reverse forecast on Farren Glory and Search For
Glory is advised.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: Farren
Glory/Search For Glory reverse forecast
1.25 – Adare Manor Handicap Chase (0-100)
An unappealing heat. Papa Barns deserves to get his head in
front but I am not certain he’ll enjoy the ground. Mahlers Cove could go well but
he ran poorly over C&D last season. An easy race to swerve. No bet.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: No bet
1.55 – Amateur National Handicap Chase (130 = 12st 4lbs)
Enjoy d’Allen has been an exceedingly frustrating horse for
us. We have backed him on more than one occasion and he always just seems to
miss out on a place. However, he hasn’t had that many chances on ground with
heavy in the description throughout his career so I am going to charge headlong over
the cliff one last time.
Ciaran Murphy’s charge has produced some of his better
recent efforts at this venue on the banks course. He was a 13l fourth in the
Risk Of Thunder here in November, finishing just over a length behind the 142
rated Stealthy Tom and a short head in front of the 157 rated Coko Beach.
His career form figures on ground with heavy in the description
read 21216 and while it would be foolish to take the form of his Risk Of Thunder run literally,
it’s hard not to be tempted by him off a mark of 122, especially with his rider
taking off 7lb. At odds of 12/1, Enjoy d’Allen is the each way selection.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: Enjoy d’Allen
e/w @ 12/1 (4 places)
2.25 – Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle (Grade 2)
There’s been quite a few half-decent winners of this Grade 2
over the years. Vautour, Douvan, Impaire Et Passe and my personal favourite, Dreal Deal.
Willie Mullins has won the last three and he holds a strong hand again with the
two market leaders, Salvator Mundi and Kel Histoire. The former horse won by
half the track at Tipperary last time on good ground but he was just behind Sir
Gino on bad ground on his debut in France and he does look like the one they
have to beat.
Kel Histoire didn’t put in the best round of jumping when
winning at Cork last month but he has to be respected given who trains him. Sky
Lord won’t mind the heavy ground but the form of Henry De Bromhead has to be a
worry for his supporters. Relieved Of Duties would be tempting on better ground
but these conditions are an unknown for him.
Artic Lane beat Relieved Of Duties in a 2m maiden hurdle at
Limerick in November but was beaten when unseating in a 2m4f handicap at
Leopardstown over the Xmas period. He’s probably a bit overpriced given he’ll
handle the ground and the drop back in trip is probably in his favour too.
Declan Queally’s horses are flying, he landed a cracking
place for us with Rocky’s Diamond at huge odds at Leopardstown and even with
just two places on offer, Artic Lane's price is big enough to warrant a small e/w bet.
Hopefully the first-time blinkers sharpen him up and he makes a bold bid from the
front.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: 0.5pt Artic
Lane e/w @ 80/1
3.25 – Handicap Hurdle (120 = 11st 12lbs)
A nice and easy get out of jail stakes. The one I’ll take a
chance on is Chosen Diamond. Trained by the King of Fairyhouse, Eddie Cawley,
this horse was last sighted running a nice race at that venue on heavy ground
last March (20f). That was a stronger race than this one and he was only 3l behind
The Other Mozzie, who is now rated 138 over fences.
This horse lacks a recent run but he won on his seasonal reappearance
last year in a handicap chase at Naas so he is capable of going well when
fresh. He has run poorly on both previous visits to Punchestown, which is a negative,
but those efforts came over 3 miles and this trip is a lot more suitable.
Sean O’Keefe was placed on him at Navan last March (2m4f, hvy)
and he held every chance of winning on him when falling at the last at Navan in
January 2024. Again, this isn’t one for maximum stakes as he may need the run
but at odds of 20/1, a small e/w interest on Chosen Diamond is advised.
2025 Punchestown Moscow Flyer Meeting Tip: Chosen Diamond
e/w @ 20/1 (5 places)
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