Selections for Wednesday 1st of May 2024
2.30 Punchestown
1 point each way Harsh (9/1 Bet365, 6 places or else 17/2 888 Sports, 6 places)
Harsh won a Juvenile Hurdle at Cork over 2m 1f on soft ground three starts ago and was a creditable fourth of twenty two on his latest start in the Boodles at the Cheltenham festival. His jumping let him down on that occasion in the hustle and bustle of such a race. He should have learnt plenty for that run and I can see him going well in this under Danny Gilligan. The step up in trip should suit Harsh and he should be competitive carrying 11-5.
4.15 Punchestown
1 point each way Stellar Story (9/2 Generally, 3 places)
Stellar Story was a game winner of the Albert Bartlett at the Cheltenham festival and I feel he has not got the recognition he deserves for that win. He was 7 lengths clear of Dancing City in that race although Dancing City did reverse the form with the second at Cheltenham The Jukebox Man at the Aintree festival. Stellar Story is all stamina so I am hoping they go a good gallop in this and turn it into a test of stamina. Stellar Story skipped Aintree and might be that much fresher than Dancing City who has run in all the Spring festivals.
4.50 Punchestown
1 point each way Romeo Coolio (5/1 Generally, 3 places)
We put up Romeo Coolio for the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and he found only one too good for him in the shape of the re-opposing Jasmin De Vaux. Romeo Coolio travelled supremely well for the majority of that race and looked the winner everywhere bar the final furlong where Jasmin De Vaux found plenty for pressure. Jasmin De Vaux relished the heavy ground on that occasion and looked full of stamina. On better ground I hope Romeo Coolio can do him for toe and a bigger danger might be the Barry Connell trained William Munny.
5.25 Punchestown
2 points each way Fastorslow (3/1 Generally, 3 places)
Fastorslow won this race last year at odds of 20/1 to cause a shock after stepping up from handicap company. He proved that Grade 1 was no fluke when winning the Grade 1 John Durkan at Punchestown last November over 2m 3f. He was four lengths second to Galopin Des Champs at the Dublin racing festival in February where it looked like he wasn’t knocked about after his chance of winning had gone. He had no race in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham where jockey JJ Slevin went out the side door for very little apparent reason. It was just one of those things but the horse was totally unaffected by the mistake. He comes here fresh and I can’t see him out of the first three. Galopin Des Champs is a bit of a freak but this race was one race too far last year for him and it could be the same again. If he were to win hats off to a remarkable horse.
6.00 Punchestown
1 point each way The Goffer (15/2 Generally, 5 places)
The Goffer should hold a solid chance in the HSS Hire handicap chase over 2m 4f. He is stepping back down in trip after not seeing out his previous races over three miles plus. The handicapper has been slow to reduce his mark but he has been dropped a few pounds to a mark of 143. That is only 5 lbs higher than when winning a Grade A handicap chase at the Leopardstown festival last year. That was over 2m 5f on yielding ground and he will have similar conditions today. Jack Kennedy is onboard and every winner will count for him this week in his effort to win the Champion riders title for the first time.
**Date & Time of next Selections Thursday 2nd of May at 10am..