Punchestown on Sunday
On Sunday at Punchestown, there’s just one horse who catches my eye and that is West Is Awake 9/1 for Eddie Cawley. He’s a really strong traveller and will no doubt hunt around the back (15:45). He sneaks in with no weight on his back and could run into a place.
Ascot on Saturday
The best race of the weekend without doubt is the Ascot Chase (15:35). Six of them line up, but you’d say only three have a real chance. I’m looking forward to seeing how Shishkin 9/4 does going up in trip. They’ve got him in the Ryanair and even the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but he’d need to run very well if they're to enter him in either of those. I’m not convinced he’s the horse he was, but he could very well prove me wrong.
That said, I do think Fakir D’Oudairies 7/4 will be very tough to beat. Since moving to Joseph O’Brien, he’s very rarely finished out of the frame and must be a real treat to own. He delivers year on year and has looked as good this year as he ever has.
In the Swinley Handicap Chase, there are two I think will go well (14:25). Harry Fry’s Phoenix Way 5/1 was a good fourth at Cheltenham last time and has won here before, which is a big plus.
The other horse is The Wolf 22/1, who is trained by Olly Murphy. Now, this horse is a real stayer. He probably wants further than this, but if they go quick early on and set it up for a finisher, he’ll be doing his best work late. Olly’s horses have been in grand form, too.
I know he needs to put two disappointing runs behind him but, if he does, Imphal 13/2 could go very well in the 16.10. His second to Ardhill in December 2021 was a good run and, if he runs to that level of form again, I don’t think he’ll be far away. He clearly likes the track and has won on better ground, so should appreciate the conditions too.
Gowran on Saturday
The Red Mills Chase at Gowran is going to be really informative (15:27). Haut En Couleurs SP is clearly very talented and is a horse that is capable of winning a Grade 1 in time. He looked like he was going to win last time before he came down at the final fence. If he wins this, his connections will have to mull over whether they supplement him for the Ryanair or they send him to the Stayers’ Hurdle, which is his only entry at the Festival next month.
The other horse in the race from the same stable is Janidil SP. He improved massively last season and is another capable of top-class success, but this is his first race back and he might need this run. He’s very talented, though.
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