Punchestown offers graded action to look forward to on Wednesday.
WEDNESDAY’S PUNCHESTOWN TIPS
- 13:35 Lunar Stride
- 14:10 Apache Peak
- 14:45 The Dotski
- 15:20 Wonderful Everyday
- 15:55 Bunting
- 16:30 Gorgeous Tom
- 17:07 Harbour Highway
- 17:40 Frisco Lad
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13:35 2m3f (2m2f190y) Irish Stallion Farms EBF Academy Hurdle (3yo)
Gavin Cromwell’s team, fresh from winning back-to-back Velka Pardubickas, look to have an interesting runner in LUNAR STRIDE. Nicely bred out of a dam called Ronda, who was unraced, and by the sire Ghaiyyath, the dam was a half-sister to useful winners Soldier In Action (9.4f-2m Flat and 2m hurdle) and Rubber Duck (1m). Soldier In Action was a hurdle winner as a four-year-old for the Nicky Henderson team, suggesting that it might be worth taking a chance with Lunar Stride here.
Selection: Lunar Stride
14:10 2m½f (2m95y) Graduation Series Maiden Hurdle (4yo+)
Ross O’Sullivan and Danny Gilligan team up with APACHE PEAK, and this gelding returns after 206 days off the track. He was second in an Academy Hurdle to start his career before he went on a bumper campaign. He was second on his opening three starts and then third to Coole Café when last seen back in March. There is room for improvement, and the market will tell us plenty closer to off time.
Selection: Apache Peak
14:45 2m½f (2m95y) Mares Handicap Hurdle (3yo+)
Just the five runners will make their way to the post for the Mares Handicap Hurdle, and the Henry De Bromhead-trained THE DOTSKI catches the eye on handicap debut. She has only had three starts and is getting better with experience, and proved that when she won by 4½ lengths at Ballinrobe last time out. She drops back a little in trip from 2m2f to 2m½ f here, and that looks to be no real inconvenience. She had the race sewn up last time a long way from home and galloped all the way to the line.
Selection: The Dotski
15:20 2m4f (2m4f45y) TRM Nutrition – No.1 In Europe, Trusted Worldwide Handicap Hurdle (4yo+)
Willie Mullins and Daniel King team up with WONDERFUL EVERYDAY, and while this mare has been frustrating, she deserves another chance here. She ran a race full of promise at Listowel last time, and if she can step up on that, then she could be going close here. She is a former Goffs Defender Bumper in the hands of Ruth Dudfield, and this will be her first hurdle start at Punchestown since that success. She was midfield last time at Listowel and then improved into eighth before taking closer order and then running on in the closing stages to grab third. She will have a featherweight of 10-3 on her back here.
Selection: Wonderful Everyday
15:55 2m2½f (2m2f75y) Novice Chase (Grade 3) (4yo+)
The jumps are well and truly back when the graded action at Punchestown whets the appetite for what should be a top-class season ahead. BUNTING, owned by Tony Bloom, was very impressive on his chase debut at Ballinrobe back at the end of August. He followed that with a solid run on the level when finishing seventh behind Chally Chute in the Irish Cesarewitch. On his consistent hurdle form and overall chase form, he should be too good for rivals here with a clear round.
Selection: Bunting
16:30 2m7f (2m7f39y) Chase (Grade 3) (5yo+)
An interesting second Grade 3 on the card, where Croke Park and Gorgeous Tom will renew rivalry from the BAR 1 Betting-sponsored Drinmore back in 2024. GORGEOUS TOM has a recent run under his belt from 77 days ago, and that might just swing it in his favour. Gorgeous Tom was fourth to Croke Park at Fairyhouse in 2024 and only beaten a length, running on late. Last time out he was seen at Ballybrit, where he finished third in the Galway Plate behind King Alexander, where he was outstayed late on. It looks like a big chance for Gorgeous Tom to record his first win in almost two years.
Selection: Gorgeous Tom
17:07 2m5½f (2m5f69y) (Q.R.) Handicap Chase (5yo+)
The JP McManus silks will be donned by Derek O’Connor aboard HARBOUR HIGHWAY, who no doubt has appeared in plenty of notebooks of late. This runner was a chase winner at Leopardstown back in March in the hands of Alan O’Sullivan, and the recent third to Whateys Quest at Listowel was a return to form. Derek O’Connor will take the mount again, and with the blinkers on for the first time, it might just spark a little bit of life back into him. He will need some luck in running but should go close over a slightly shorter trip than last time.
Selection: Harbour Highway
17:40 2m½f (2m95y) Graduation Series INH Flat Race (4yo)
John Gleeson and Henry De Bromhead team up with FRISCO LAD, and this gelding looks capable of following up his debut victory at Limerick back in July. He set his own fractions and was galloping rivals into submission before running green a furlong from home. He stayed on well inside the final furlong and galloped all the way to the line. There was plenty of market support for him on debut, and it will be interesting to see if the backers return.
Selection: Frisco Lad
WEDNESDAY’S PUNCHESTOWN TIPS
- 13:35 Lunar Stride
- 14:10 Apache Peak
- 14:45 The Dotski
- 15:20 Wonderful Everyday
- 15:55 Bunting
- 16:30 Gorgeous Tom
- 17:07 Harbour Highway
- 17:40 Frisco Lad
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