15:40

Henry de Bromhead’s Gentleman Joe 10/1 caught my eye on his recent run at Fairyhouse. He hasn’t had the best of luck or been the easiest to train but he’s got ability and I think his mark of 116 is also fair. I certainly don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet.

16:15

It's very interesting to see DOUGLAS TALKING 3/1 coming over after his excellent run at Aintree. He must have come out bouncing and he could go well again from the front.

I’ve got to give a good mention to Fighting Fit 12/1 though, although he’s coming here off the back of a fall. That run was his first in a while and he perhaps needed the run, but he was progressive prior to that.

17:25

Gordon Elliott might have a quiet Punchestown by his standards, but he could win the Grade 1 Stayers’. Sire Du Berlais is impossible to knock; he must be one of the toughest horses in training to do what he’s done in his career. I watched his win in the Stayers’ at Cheltenham back and I’ve got to say that I thought TEAHUPOO 5/2 was the best horse I the race. He’s been freshened up since and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the top stayer in the next couple of years.

18:00

Despite a big field, there is not a great deal of depth to the Grade B Handicap at 18:00, but the two are like are both owned by JP McManus. A GREAT VIEW 14/1 is a veteran 12 years old, but he won this last year and would have no doubt had this as his target ever since. He’s trained just down the road and I can see him going very well.

The other is Verdant Place 9/1 who is improving, having won here a couple of times. He ran into a really progressive horse last time, who may end up running in a Grade 1 later this week.

18:35

I’m not sure he’s banker material, but EL FABIOLO 2/7 is the best horse in the race based on his Arkle form. His jumping hasn’t been foot perfect though, which is why I don’t think he’s totally unbeatable.

Dysart Dynamo 5/1 will make it a good test and if he could force El Fabiolo into a mistake, we could have a bit of a race on our hands.

19:10

Lilith 6/1 won this last year and would have a good chance again for the in-form Anthony Honeyball.

But SECRET SHE KEEPS 3/1 has been kept for this race. If she’s ready to do herself justice, she's on a nice enough mark. She finished fourth last time but was put up 1lb for that effort.  

19:45

I’m a big fan of BALLYBURN 1/1 in the bumper. He missed an engagement at Fairyhouse, but he must be in good shape now as he’s going to run. As we know, Patrick Mullins gets the call of the rides and he’s chosen him, which is no surprise. He’s a horse with lots of potential and I expect him to see off the horses who ran at Cheltenham.

The one I would be a little wary of is Slade Steel 11/2 who quickened up smartly to win a bumper at Punchestown in December and runs for Robcour, who have a great team for this week.

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