Eight races on the card at Punchestown on Tuesday and it could be a case of notebooks at the ready.
TUESDAY’S PUNCHESTOWN TIPS
- 13:35 Danny Power
- 14:10 Houndsworth
- 14:45 Sandor Clegane
- 15:20 Labondance
- 15:55 Ealu Tapa
- 16:30 Granlahan
- 17:07 Soldier Saint
- 17:40 Eastern Whisper
-View our latest Horse Racing markets
13:35 2m (2m46y) Challenge Series 3-Y-O Hurdle (3yo)
An intriguing start to a Tuesday afternoon where DANNY POWER catches the eye for Mark Walsh and John Queally. His debut at Listowel wasn’t short of excitement; Mark was unshipped in the parade ring and ultimately missed the ride, with Darragh O’Keeffe stepping in at the last minute. The horse was a handful on the way to the start, but he was professional throughout the race. He travelled strongly and strode clear after the last to win by an ever widening 8 ½ lengths.
His trainer was quite complimentary after the race and said the next time he runs Mark will be back aboard, all being well, as he had done most of the work on him. He looks smart and should go close here.
Selection: Danny Power
14:10 2m (2m46y) Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (3yo+)
The drop back in trip for the Mark McNiff-trained and Donagh Meyler-ridden HOUNDSWORTH looks interesting. This gelding will run off the same mark of 101 as he did last time at Ballinrobe when finishing second to Ocean Murphy. He wasn’t fluent two out and went second before the last and then flattened out close home. This trip should be ideal, and if there is pace on, you could see Donagh slot in towards the rear and come with a run late.
Selection: Houndsworth
14:45 2m7½f (2m7f95y) Challenge Series Hurdle (4yo+)
Even though he is only a 9-year-old, SANDOR CLEGANE seems to have been around for quite a while; this will only be his 27th start under rules. Three victories from six starts around Punchestown, and he returns to this venue following a third to Butch Cassidy over the larger obstacles at Killarney last time out. He hasn’t been seen over hurdles since Fairyhouse in April 2025, but a fourth to Home By The Lee in Grade One company in 2024 and fourth to Rocky’s Diamond in the Galmoy Hurdle at Gowran Park in 2025 looks like standout form in this field.
Selection: Sandor Clegane
15:20 2m7½f (2m7f95y) Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
A chance is taken here with handicap debutante LABONDANCE for Emmet Mullins and Donagh Meyler. This mare will be having her third start for Emmet since she left the yard of Daniela Mele in France. She finished second at Dieppe and third at Compiegne over fences in 2025 and has caught the eye over hurdles for this team at Ballinrobe and Listowel. She was fourth to the John Mc Connell-trained Amina and then fourth to the Willie Mullins-trained Run Ted Run, looking outpaced on both starts to the step up in trip should be in her favour.
Selection: Labondance
15:55 2m4f Challenge Series Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
Peter Fahey and Sam Ewing team up with EALU TAPA, who ran a promising race last time behind the Amo Racing-owned Dallas Star at Navan. This gelding was a bumper winner at Ballinrobe back in July, and while it disappointed on hurdling debut, it was much more like it last time out. The form of the race has worked out well, with the third State Pension winning since. They bypassed the last hurdle at Navan last time, so that left a long run from the back of the second last, and Ealu Tapa was slightly short of room. A repeat of that form will see him in the equation here.
Selection: Ealu Tapa
16:30 2m4f Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (Div I) (3yo+ 0-100)
A quick return to the track for GRANLAHAN and should see it follow up for trainer Adrian McGuiness and jockey Darragh O’Keeffe. A consistent run of seconds before travelling much the best at Fairyhouse on Saturday to win by nine lengths. The son of Equiano gets in here with a seven-pound penalty and will be very hard to oppose should he appear in similar form.
Selection: Granlahan
17:07 2m4f Challenge Series Handicap Hurdle (Div II) (3yo+ 0-100)
Longford trainer Paul Flynn has his team in good form and will be looking for another solid run from SOLDIER SAINT, who only ran at Downpatrick on Friday last. He travelled very strongly from off the pace in that race, and a similar strong pace here looks sure to suit. He gets in off the same mark of 87, and he looks the type to improve with racing and maybe better over a fence in time. The team had a nice winner with Pourqoi Poi of late, and Soldier Saint could be another for them here.
Selection: Soldier Saint
17:40 2m (2m46y) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares INH Flat Race (4yo+)
A tricky end to the card and the booking of Patrick Mullins aboard EASTERN WHISPER catches the eye. This mare is out of a dam called Jolify, who was a two-time winner for Andre Fabre on the level in France. The dam was also a half-sister to Ebor/November Handicap winner Litigant, suggesting that there is plenty of stamina in the pedigree. Litigant won the November Handicap on heavy ground in November 2015 in the hands of George Baker, which suggests soft ground conditions may be no issue for Eastern Whisper. The market will tell us plenty, but she looks a very interesting runner.
Selection: Eastern Whisper
TUESDAY’S PUNCHESTOWN TIPS
- 13:35 Danny Power
- 14:10 Houndsworth
- 14:45 Sandor Clegane
- 15:20 Labondance
- 15:55 Ealu Tapa
- 16:30 Granlahan
- 17:07 Soldier Saint
- 17:40 Eastern Whisper
