2:30 Punchestown Tips

These odds mean a generous reward for a very confident pick. The Lovely Man is bidding for a hat-trick, showing great power on heavy ground three weeks ago. Lucky Lyreen looks the best of the rest due to a recent win.

Showed plenty of promise early in her career, reaching a handicap mark of 133 as a hurdler. Hadn't shown much as a chaser before going into handicaps, when she won a decent enough contest. Now tackles this longer trip and showed plenty of guts to win last time. The trainer knows what it takes to win the Grand National, so it's interesting that this is his first choice for a trial race.

He won a point-to-point on heavy ground and won on his hurdles debut, but is yet to win since in his subsequent eight attempts. He has been racing over much too short distances, and his point-to-point win proves he needs further. He is also related to Win My Wings, who won between 2m2f and 4m1f, so there could be lots of stamina in the tank.

Has been heavily supported the night before racing, with the price halved. Won a beginners' chase here but was disappointing in a few efforts leading into the last run before bouncing back with a good second here. Clearly likes this course. Connections picked up a winner last time out. Unexposed with only five handicap starts so far, and this step up in trip could bring out further progression.

Bingeworthy should relish this step up in trip. He has a pedigree loaded with stamina, and the ground should also not hold any issues. The very talented Danny Gilligan takes the ride, and the first-time headgear should also be a help.

It seems strange to see a Mullins horse ridden by Paul Townend at the current odds, but this looks like an open race. Uncle Pat has generally run well without looking anything special, but the step up in trip could see this horse in a better light. With bookies paying five places, he's worth an each-way bet.

May Call You Back is an 8yo mare trained by Willie Mullins. She joined the yard on a mark of 77 and has been highly progressive over hurdles and the bigger obstacles, winning five races and rising some 35 lb. She runs today off just 10st 5lb, which will be a big advantage on today's heavy rain-sodden ground. She lugged 12st to beat Cousin Kate (100) and Alright Darling (80, who won her previous start) in a handicap hurdle at Gowran Park under today's jockey Brian Hayes over 2m 4f on heavy ground. Cousin Kate has since finished 3-1-1-1 and is now rated 130, and Alright Darling won in her next start. That was quite some effort in hindsight for a mare to carry that weight and beat two progressive hurdlers. There are questions over today's 3m, but she is out of a dam sired by Presenting, and two recent winners of this race??'the winners dam was sired by Presenting: Where It All Began (2024) and Death Duty (2022). May Call You Back will have a big part to play if the step up in trip suits off a featherweight and proven form on heavy ground.

He is a promising chaser with potential for further development in the Irish NH circuit. Under the training of Gordon Elliott, he has displayed a combination of impressive form and occasional inconsistency. He has secured two victories to date, including a notable win in a beginners' chase at Naas last December, where he showcased a strong finish. He should be a profitable option here each-way, with five places available at attractive odds.

With five places on offer, I think this one looks decent each-way value at 18/1. Won the race last year on soft ground but should be fine on heavy. Up 6 lb on that effort, but did win by nearly 3 lengths and the third was another 13 lengths behind.

Gordon Elliott has won the last four of the trials, and last year the first three horses were all from his stable. He has seven entries this year, and a chance is taken on the outsider of his contingent, Beaufort Scale. Finished seventh in his last three races, including the Trotown Chase and the Welsh National in December. Has the ability to squeeze into the frame and is an each-way hopeful.