Friday 2nd March 2025
6.05 Punchestown: Alanna Homes Champion Novice Hurdle: The first of my evening selections on Friday comes at Punchestown and in the 6.05, which is the Champion Novice Hurdle that’s contested over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I’m strong on The Yellow Clay here for Gordon Elliott and Sam Ewing. He won a Grade 3, a Grade 2, and a Grade 1 before finishing three-quarters of a length behind The New Lion in the Turners at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He was in front of Final Demand that day, and I think he’ll confirm that form here over today’s distance. The Yellow Clay – 11/8 (Win) (NB)
6.48 Newcastle: QuinnBet Maiden Stakes: It’s over to Newcastle for my second selection, and this is the 6.48 which is a Class 5 handicap over seven furlongs. I think that National Park should take some beating here for the team of William Haggas and Adam Farragher. He finished fourth behind the highly promising Cosmic Year on his racecourse debut at Kempton last month, and he should naturally come on a great deal for that run. This looks like a good opportunity for him, and it would be very disappointing should he not go very close here. National Park – 6/5 (Win) (NAP)
7.10 Punchestown: Uniquely Novice Hurdle: My third selection of the evening comes from Punchestown and in the 7.10, and this is novice hurdle action over two miles. I’ve sided with Naturally Nimble here for Joseph O’Brien and J J Slevin. He needs to prove that his fall at Aintree last time out hasn’t left its mark; however, before that, he looked like a promising type, winning a Grade 3 at Fairyhouse back in December before finishing fourth behind Hello Neighbour in Grade 2 company on Boxing Day. He should be relatively fresh following his campaigning this term and can have a big say here. Naturally Nimble – 4/1 (Win)
8.30 Newcastle: eatflixcinema.com Handicap: The fourth and final selection comes from Newcastle and the 8.30, which is a Class 6 handicap that’s contested over a mile. I’m taking a chance on Makeen here for Julie Camacho and Tom Kiely-Marshall who takes off five pounds. He’s on a much-reduced mark here with a further five pounds coming off his back via his rider, and he’s also placed over course and distance previously off considerably higher marks. He’s gone well fresh in the past and can go well in this. Makeen – 9/2 (Win)
