WEDNESDAY PUNCHESTOWN IRISH NH TIPS

There can only place to start with a NAP for me and that is Fastorslow to repeat his victory of last year in this race. He was still travelling well when unseating JJ Slevin at the top of the hill in the Gold Cup. I think he would have gone very close that day had he stood up but of course nobody can say for sure. Ground conditions here will be much more up his street and he goes so well at the track.

He's had an easier time of it this season too compared to his main market rival and with that in mind he rates a strong bet.

An impressive maiden winner at Leopardstown over Christmas on a rare sight of nice ground this season. A return to nicer ground here on a speed favouring track makes him a strong bet in a race where he should be able to outclass his rivals. His jumping was a real asset at Leopardstown and a return to a positive ride coupled with a drop in class will make him very difficult to beat.

I'd just put a line through the run at Fairyhouse the last day on horrible ground that he just didn't handle. For me that's easily forgiven.

This is a horse I've long adored and who was very unlucky to have met with major interference at this festival last season without which I suspect he'd have gone very close in a handicap hurdle. He had a mid-season break after a couple of nice runs behind the likes of American Mike, Fact To File and Embassy Gardens. He ran a few weeks ago at Limerick in a race that was run at a crawl and this horse is a real strong stayer at the trip and having conceded first run he suffered interference up the run in but wasn't beaten far.

He should be assured a strong test here and I expect him to be very hard to beat under a more positive ride. Fingers crossed for a big run.