At last a couple of winners to shout home and hopefully we can build on that for the rest of the year. Fastorslow was very impressive and looked a fresher horse than Galopin Des Champs. Paul is within striking distance of Jack Kennedy now and the jockeys Championship looks like going down to the wire. Personally I would love to see Jack win after all his injuries over the years.
Selections for Thursday 2nd of May 2024
3.40 Punchestown
1 point each way Rumi (20/1 Bet365, 6 places or else 18/1 Generally, 6 places)
Rumi won his maiden hurdle at the Listowel festival over 2 miles on good to yielding ground back in September 2022. 2023 was a bit of a write off for him. He had a bad fall at Ballinrobe on his final start of last season and required an operation after. He showed no ill effects when winning on his reappearance on the flat last week. He was highly tried after that win at Listowel and an opening mark of 115 looks more than fair. This better ground is key for this horse and Edward O’ Grady is a dangerous trainer in this type of race.
4.15 Punchestown
1 point each way Saint Roi (8/1 Bet365/ 888 Sports, 5 places)
Saint Roi put in a much improved effort on his latest run at Aintree over 2 miles in the Red Rum handicap chase. That was off a mark of 150 and he runs today off a mark of 152. Aidan Kelly takes the ride and can claim a valuable 5 lbs off this top weight. He won a Grade 1 at Leopardstown over 2 miles on yielding ground last season so won’t be inconvenienced by the better ground and I can see him at least making the places.
6.00 Punchestown
1 point each way Sire Du Berlais (8/1 Generally, 3 places)
Sire Du Berlais is an old favourite of the service and I still feel he is the each way angle in this against Teahupoo who will be hard to beat. Sire Du Berlais is a real Spring horse who comes alive at this time of year. He was running on strongly in the Stayers Hurdle at Cheltenham but unfortunately they hadn’t gone a strong gallop and he just got outpaced before staying on again for fifth. He missed the Aintree festival and I am hoping that will have him nice and fresh for a big effort today. He went close in this race last year and hopefully he can be bang there again today.
6.35 Punchestown
1 point each way Captain Cody (7/2 Generally, 6 places)
Captain Cody looks to have been found a great opportunity in the Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle. He was an impressive winner on his latest run at Fairyhouse when stepped up to 2m 4f. That was a grade 2 race and he won by over 6 lengths from Mossy Fen Park back in second. The handicapper has given him a mark of 138. The extra 3 furlongs here looks sure to be in his favour and if his jumping holds up Paul should have another winner with him. He is the only really unexposed horse in the field and he was very close to have been a max bet. The only worry was that he tends to make the odd mistake over his hurdles.
7.05 Punchestown
1 point each way Got Glory (5/1 Bet365/ Paddy power/ Betfair/ Unibet, 4 places)
Again we take on a strong favourite in the shape of Spindleberry but Willie Mullins is bullish about the high regards he holds stablemate Got Glory. She has only had the two runs since joining Willie Mullins from France and is still very much an unknown. She pulled up on her Irish debut at Fairyhouse in a Grade 1 last April. She was off for just under a year before winning her maiden hurdle last month at Naas on soft ground. She showed a nice turn of foot when sprinting clear after the last hurdle to win impressively under hands and heels. There is every chance she will have learnt plenty from that race and take another step forward. She is a good bet to pick up the pieces if the favourite underperforms.
**Date & Time of next Selections Friday 3rd of May at 10am..