FRIDAY PUNCHESTOWN IRISH NH TIPS

A Punchestown maiden hurdle winner with consummate ease in January he went to Fairyhouse at Easter and was travelling all over a winner when tipping up at the second last over two and a half miles.

The drop back in trip will be no inconvenience to him and if he gets round, I think he will be impossible to beat. I rate him a very strong bet.

As good a hunter chaser as there was in Britain or Ireland last year with just the trip finding him out at Cheltenham before bolting up at Aintree afterwards. He comes here a fresh horse and, on a speed, favouring easy three miles he looks a class apart to me and with that in mind I won't be opposing him especially with his main market rivals having taken up engagements at Cheltenham, Aintree and/or Fairyhouse already this spring.

A tough and consistent handicapper over both hurdles and fences but he still remains unexposed over the larger obstacles. He was running a blinder at the Dublin Racing Festival when falling at the last in an ultra-competitive race where Heart Wood bolted up.

With a clear round and hopefully none the worse for that fall last time out he should be bang there at the business end. Hopefully he will be an each way price.