3:20 Punchestown Tips

Likeable gelding was 2nd at Fairyhouse over an extended 2 miles 4 furlongs in November and, after a decent run at Navan, again filled the runner-up position, over 19 furlongs at this course on New Year's Eve. Up 3 lbs now, but looks progressive and this looks an easier race.

5 yr old who's carrying top weight & has 1 win here at course over 16f & 2 placed runs also over same trip from 6 starts . Finished 8th of 18 last start but steps up to 20f for the shrewd J.Harrington yard & good shout of making the frame .

Was a winner on yard debut when winning at Bellewstown in July. Two respectable runs since and holds an each-way chance if in the same form.

Happy Dreams has won 7 of his 34 starts, with two coming over hurdles. He took advantage of a lower hurdles mark when winning at Limerick in November and was then beaten just a neck in his follow-up bid off an 11 lb higher mark at Cork last month. Switched back to fences, he won again at Limerick on Boxing Day. Back over hurdles, he is 5 lb higher than at Cork, but with 5 places on offer he looks a good each-way bet.

Bottom-weight Minority Interest is trained by P. J. Rothwell, who has trained three winners in the last fortnight. Has gone up nine pounds for a win last time out at Gowran Park, but a useful apprentice takes off seven. Each-way chance.

Last season, she placed 2nd in a Strong Mares Listed Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown. Recently, she made a promising return by finishing 3rd in a handicap hurdle at Cork just eight days ago. Now 3 lb lighter, she shows significant potential based on her top form. With odds of 20/1, she offers fantastic each-way value.

Jupiter de Guite showed his well-being at Tramore just ten days ago. He's well handicapped on past hurdles form and quickly returned to racing. He has a chance if producing a similar run.

Olympy De Cerisy has been racing at around two miles in his three runs over hurdles. Having won a point over three miles, today's step up in distance to 21 furlongs can suit. Previously the horse had shown decent form in National Hunt Flat races, including on the right-handed, undulating track at Limerick, so Punchestown can also suit. Olympy De Cerisy has gone well on soft/heavy ground. Trainer Declan Queally's latest runner before today was a winner.

Finished a good 2nd of 15 the run-before-last, only being headed close home over 2m 4f on yielding ground with a rating of 106. Then won last time out off his higher rating of 110, keeping on well at the finish over 2m 4f. His rating goes up further today to 117 but there could be more to come after a refreshing 52-day break, with the same jockey on board.

Beyond Your Dreams has won a hurdle race at 2m and was seventh in a flat race over 1m 4f at Leopardstown on her latest outing in May last year. Back over hurdles today, the course, distance and going should suit. She seems well treated and could well be able to win this race.

Shot in the dark with this one. MOON MISSION has been beaten a total of 129 lengths in his four maiden hurdle outings this season, but like many trainers, they run their horses down the field to get a lenient handicap mark. This is my selection's first run in handicap company.

Lightly raced 7-year-old. Won a 19.5f hurdle in April and has had only three runs since, including an unplaced favorite in a beginners' chase. Returned to hurdles last time out, finishing 5/11 at 16f. Jockey and trainer are both in excellent form.

I'll take an each-way chance on Ontheropes, outsider and one of two runners for Thomas Mullins here. Interesting. Showed some form in hunter chases for a while before losing his way in recent times. Formerly with Willie Mullins. Not too useful for that yard either, but has never really been much tried over hurdles. One from one in this sphere of racing, actually, winning a maiden hurdle by ten lengths back in 2019. You never know.