Man On The Spot's race-by-race guide and best bets for Saturday's meeting at Punchestown.
Saturday Punchestown nap:
2.35 Dooley Insurances Cross Country Chase
Josies Orders won this in 2015 and has been a regular in these types of races for some time. He's twice been beaten in driving finishes by stable-companion Auvergnat this year, including in the La Touche here on Thursday and should have the beating of most of these rivals, many of who have already run this week. Willie Mullins doesn't have many runners in these races so THE CRAFTY BUTCHER is very interesting. A dual point-to-point winner, his form over regulation fences includes a close second in the Paddy Power at Leopardstown and if taking to this circuit he'll be very difficult to beat. Hurricane Darwin has been disappointing so far and was behind Josies Orders here in February and though Peter Maher has a fine record in these events Black Benny and Ballyboker Bridge have a lot to find.
3.10 Palmerstown House Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase
Fine Rightly has won nine of his 29 races though it's two years since he last tasted success. He's been competing at a high level and has dropped a couple of pounds in the ratings so should do better. Some Neck looked one to follow when making a winning start over fences at Gowran but made far too many mistakes in a Limerick Grade 3 next time and he'll need to jump better. Nigel Twiston-Davies sends Wicked Willy from the UK and he's only 2lb higher than when scoring at Taunton earlier this year while High Nellie has done well since turning to fences, making all for clear cut victories at Cork and Tramore. MAJOR DESTINATION is lightly raced and open to plenty of improvement. He hasn't run since August but Noel Meade will have him ready and he could have got in here lightly so looks the one to beat.
3.50 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Annie Power Mares Champion Hurdle
APPLE'S JADE won this easily last year, followed home by a quartet of Willie Mullins' runners, and looked better than ever when beating Nichols Canyon and Supasundae in Grade 1's in December. She started odds-on for the Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham but was surprisingly beaten into third behind Benie Des Dieux and the outsider Midnight Tour. The slow early pace her rider set on testing ground didn't do her any favours and she was tapped for pace on the run to the line but that mistake won't be made here and she can retain her crown. The winner was having her first start over fences for Mullins having completed a hat-trick over fences after arriving from France, where she had scored over timber. She can improve again but the runner-up appears suited by Cheltenham though she had been well beaten behind the selection in the same race the previous year. Jer's Girl is also held though it wouldn't be a surprise to see her run into a place at a fair price.
4.20 Aes Champion Four Year Old Hurdle
All nine entries are trained by either Willie Mullins or Gordon Elliott with the former, who has won the last five of these, entering half-a-dozen. Saglawy had Mitchouka just over 2l in second, Saldier a further length behind, and Veneer Of Charm, Msassa and Eoline Jolie in the rear when landing a Grade 2 juvenile event at Fairyhouse last week. The winner, who started favourite, made most and ran on strongly so should confirm the form though Saldier made a couple of mistakes and can get closer. Paul Townend, who rode the winner, has chosen Mr Adjudicator this time and his mount had a tremendous battle with FARCLAS (NAP) in the Triumph Hurdle, eventually going down by just over a length. The winner got right on top in the closing stages and there doesn't appear any reason for a form reversal. The Triumph looked a strong race this year with the well-fancied Apple's Shakira only fourth and Saldier fifth so the form should hold up.
5.00 BoyleSports Handicap Chase
David Pipe sends Daklondike from the UK and he's looked a real staying type in his last two starts so today's trip should be well within his capabilities. Fletchers Flyer won this in 2016 and is better than recent form figures suggest while Tulsa Jack is capable of running a big race over a trip that suits. FOREVER GOLD doesn't have the greatest of strike-rates and the fences sometimes get in the way but he's a dour stayer in good form having been narrowly beaten in a driving finish for the Irish National where he might have won but for being impeded at the last. Just in front that day was Isleofhopendreams, who was only headed in the final strides, while the latter's lightly-raced stable companion Augustin has the look of a chaser who will get better the further he goes.
5.35 Ballymore Handicap Hurdle
Willie Mullins has an incredible 14 entries plus two reserves. Low Sun may prove vest of them after a very good effort behind stablemate True Self here on Tuesday but he has nothing in hand of Yaha Fizz on their run at Fairyhouse last week. Gordon Elliott's charge was beaten just over 2l when conceding 19lb and the weights are in his favour here. JOEY SASA finished runner-up in that former event and would have given the winner something to think about but for a last-flight error so he's taken to go one better. Prince Garyantle has incurred a massive penalty for his easy victory here on Wednesday while Agent Boru is penalised 6lb for last week's success at Fairyhouse. Max Dynamite has become disappointing over hurdles after his superb displays on the Flat but Early Doors ran very well when third in the Martin Pipe at Cheltenham.
Passageway has joined Willie Mullins after a short-head defeat at Loughrea in October though he's joined here by four previous winners between the flags. The four-year-old Envious Editor won comfortably at Belharbour while Perpignan looked a nice prospect when scoring at Moig South last month. Minella Indo was well supported at Dromahane and had no problems landing a maiden point in convincing fashion. He's joined Henry De Bromhead and looks certain to go well though the vote goes to DLAURO. He started a short-priced favourite for his debut at Belharbour in February and his supporters never had a moment's concern after which he went for a massive £410,000 at the Cheltenham sales. Gordon Elliott's newcomers Major Mitchell and Multifactorial are worth a market check, especially the latter who is out of a very smart mare.
6.40 29th Running Punchestown Charity Race
This is a charity race with little real Flat form to go on and the market should be observed though MISS SAPPHIRE would be the selection if getting a run from her reserve spot. Inis Meain was once much better than these and is fit from chasing so could be an alternative along with dual bumper winner Mountain Rock.