4:50 Punchestown Tips

Kitzbuhel is a bold jumper who likes to go with the pace and is unbeaten so far in completed chases. He probably only has stablemate Predators Gold as a danger.

Shapes Like will relish this trip and is unbeaten here in two starts: one over hurdles and one over fences this season. Has beaten two 150 horses this season, Salvator Mundi and Jacob's Ladder, and looks the solid each-way play.

Oscars Brother is an interesting contender if bouncing back from Aintree. His latest run in the Grand National ended early with an unseat at the 15th, so he avoided a full hard race, which could be a positive depending on how much that effort took out of him. Prior to that, he ran a solid 4th in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival over 3m1f, beaten 5½L by Kitzbuhel, staying on well from the rear. That run hinted at strong stamina and may well have been a prep for Aintree. Earlier in the season, he showed high-class form ??' winning a Grade 2 at Navan Racecourse by 6L and also landing a Grade 2 at Punchestown Racecourse over 3m, beating a rival who has since gone on to win at Grade 1 level. The key question is how he comes out of Aintree, but if that run hasn’t left a mark, his staying ability and proven class give him a definite chance in this field.

Fleur in the Park is an Irish thoroughbred trained by Andrew Slattery. Four wins out of the last 17. Progressive 7-year-old novice chaser with a good record. Won well at Fairyhouse earlier in the month over 2m 4f. Should have a good chance.

I've always thought July Flower had plenty of stamina and was surprised to see her campaigned over around two miles, but then she did pick up a pair of wins over fences at the start of the season. Faded out of things when ridden from the front at Cheltenham last time and I'm hoping for a more patient ride at this trip as she got when winning a Grade 3 hurdle on her first start for the yard last year. She finished 3rd in a Grade 1 hurdle in France which came over 25f on heavy ground but has form on a quicker surface and I think can make the frame here.

Spanish Harlem is very good over this trip and ground and won over course and distance in June last year. Good efforts in the Ayr National and Bet365 Gold Cup in the past. Won the Kerry National with a strong display of jumping from the front in September. Would have won the Thyestes but for unshipping rider at the last. This looks a more suitable race than the Grand National last time. Harry Cobden rides. A little interesting at a big price.