Sunday 16th January 2022

Author: Jordan Yates (EvRacing_)

A big welcome to this Sunday Preview which comes from Punchestown, where I’ll be taking you through the card with my opinions. We’ve got the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle as well as the Grade 3 Kildare Novices’ Chase…

..I do have to say thank you to everybody that messaged me with kind words after Saturday’s winners (below). It was one of the best day’s I’ve had since I started tipping and was welcomed after a pretty slow start to 2022.

As ever though, enjoy this preview.

– Jordan

The action on Sunday at Punchestown kicks off at 12:15 where the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer over two miles takes centre-stage. It’s hard to see past Dysart Dynamo here for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend who’s looked mightily impressive so far in his short career, he won by 19 lengths on hurdles debut and looks very likely to enhance his Cheltenham claims here. I don’t think it’s a complete penalty kick for him though, his stablemate Hawai Game looks to have a bundle of potential himself, and if I was going to side with one to cause an upset it would be Guily Billy for Henry De Bromhead. He’s a horse who is thought a lot of and got off the mark over hurdles last time when winning by 25 lengths.

The 12:45 is a Maiden Hurdle over two miles and as things currently stand there are 21 runners set to take their place in it. I think this is a good opportunity for Killer Mode to get his head in-front for Noel Meade and Sean Flanagan. He ran a big race on hurdles debut behind what looks a smart sort for Willie Mullins, and if he runs to that level again he’ll be tough to beat. His main rivals look to be Goven and Hiaou.

It’s division two of the Maiden Hurdle up next at 1:15, also with another 21 runners to note. This looks to have a bit more depth than it’s predecessor. Supreme Jet looks to the set the standard on all known form, but it’s highly likely that you wouldn’t have to be a world-beater to topple this lot, so I think the newcomer Jack In The Box could well be up for the challenge for Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy. It’s a first runner for the stable for the famous owners and I’ll take a chance on him being better than this lot.

The 1:45 comes up next which is Mares Handicap Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. This is fiercely competitive affair, but having had a look through them I’ve come down on Family Business at 8/1 for Donal Coffey and Jack Foley who takes off five. She wasn’t completely disgraced when finishing fifth in listed company last time and bolted up by 15 lengths in a maiden the time before that. She’s got form over two miles four and could still have a bit more to give. I’ll chance her to go well.

It’s the second graded race of the afternoon at 2:20 where the Grade 3 Kildare Novice Chase takes place over two miles and four furlongs. It’s hard to see past Bob Olinger here for Henry De Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore. He was a brilliant novice hurdler last season which saw him take the Ballymore at The Festival, and it’s likely he’ll make considerable progress from his chasing debut where he won by six-lengths. Gallard Du Mesnil could turn the form around with his stablemate to chase him home.

We move onto the 2:50 where it’s more chasing action with a Beginners Chase over two miles and six furlongs. Whisky Lullaby is the warm favourite here for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, formerly with Paul Nicholls she made a decent start to life at Closutton when finished third on stable debut and if building on that here she’s a big player. I think she could be a bit short in the betting though at 7/4 for a race of this nature, and I quite like Fizzlestick here at 8/1 for Ricky Doyle and Conor O’Dwyer. She was third in a Grade 2 last time, albeit a long way behind Concertista, however, these waters are considerably calmer than that affair and she often ran well in competitive handicap hurdles.

Concluding the preview for me is the 3:20 which is a Handicap Chase over two miles and four furlongs. This is another fiercely competitive contest of which I’ve come down on Henry Brown at 11/2 for Noel Meade and Eoin Walsh. The application of blinkers appeared to spark some life into him last time at Limerick when he finished fourth of fourteen, his best run in a very long time. If running to that level again he’s got every chance of playing a part.