3:40 Punchestown Tips

Khrisma may want more cut to show her best form, as all three of her wins have come on soft going. She finished 2nd in a novice hurdle here last May and should go close again if she has a clear round of jumping. She was pulled up after a bad error last time at Kelso.

Murcia won at Aintree last spring and has run with credit without winning since, including a fifth place behind stablemate Kalix Delabarriere at Fairyhouse earlier this month. Has a fair swing in the weights with that rival today, and Murcia is the choice of leading jockey Paul Townend. Likely to go close.

Won at this meeting last year with Bowen on board from 7 lbs higher. The drying ground will be in favour, and the fact this horse was 6th in the Greatwood from 9 lbs higher behind Alexei suggests a big run here.

This unexposed runner from a powerhouse stable is sitting on a mountainous class edge relative to his current handicap mark. He possesses a dedicated hold-up profile, meaning he will be anchored at the rear while the leaders inevitably cut each other's throats on the front end. Crucially, the application of a first-time tongue tie strongly suggests the stable means business and is actively looking to maximize his finishing effort off a fast pace.

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Intriguing contest. Highly competitive. It is ultimately a bit of a lottery. Larzac has perhaps been brought along slowly. One of many runners for a very in-form Willie Mullins (SR 36%) stable. A maiden still after just five starts but tried very highly in Grade 1s at Cheltenham and Punchestown last year. Beaten favorite the last twice but showed improvement at Cork last time, his best run yet for the yard. 'Travelled strongly' on his first outing this year earlier this month and not beaten far.

Messerschmitt is a 5-year-old bay gelding trained by Noel Meade. Last race: finished 9th of 18 at Fairyhouse. 1st at Thurles over 8f (flat) last October. Should have a place chance.

Touch Me Not has earned a chase mark of 152 and has not been seen over hurdles since winning in April 2024, so he goes into this on a 17 lb lower mark than his chase form. He jumped hurdles fluently, so should run his race today. The 7-year-old likes to go from the front, and that could prove an advantage in this big field. He has a win here and otherwise good course form. The distance and ground are also ideal for him today. He was set a stiff task under an apprentice last time but has otherwise been in good form this year. Jack Kennedy takes over today, and he is unexposed off this mark over hurdles.

His form tailed off sharply after winning on seasonal return and he's been given a break since. Comes here 1lb lower than that win back in October and has gone well in the past for the yard that won this race last year. He's a 10yo now and he's form is inconsistent but on a going day he's well handicapped and has back class including when travelling across the Irish Sea to win a Listed hurdle at Fairyhouse in December 2021, winning cosily from a mark of 121.