5:25 Punchestown Tips

Shuffle The Deck looks a strong contender in an open handicap, despite still being a maiden over fences. His chase form is stacking up well against high-quality opposition. On debut over fences at Punchestown Racecourse, he finished 4th behind Kitzbuhel (rated 156), with Kaid d’Authie (158) also ahead ??' a very deep race. He followed that with another solid effort when 3rd behind Koktail Divin (rated 150), and again ran well when 3rd over 2m7f behind Soldier In Milan, the Irish National winner (rated 157). His latest run in a Listed Novice Chase over 2m½f looks particularly strong form. He finished 3rd to Come Walk With Me, who has since won impressively at this festival, while the runner-up Moudan has also boosted the form with a wide-margin Grade 3 handicap win. Now stepping back up in trip and likely to encounter better ground, conditions look more in his favour. With consistent form against top opposition and races working out well, Shuffle The Deck looks well treated and a major player here.

Won well latest at Cork and possibly hes improving at the moment and has got in at a decent mark. Townend's choice and can go close here.

A useful hurdler. He made a pleasing chase debut on his return from an eight-month break when a close-up 2nd over 23f at this track in mid-December. He jumped soundly then but came down four out at the same track next time before bouncing back with a narrow defeat at Naas last time. Can reward each-way support with another clear round.

Has won 2 handicap chases already this season and arrives in fine form. With his low weight and stepping up in trip, he's at the right end of the handicap for this. The yard already has a winner at the meeting and is in fine form.

Nicky Henderson hasn't had a winner at this meeting so far, but he has a chance with Noble Park. This one has looked much better as a chaser than a hurdler and is lightly raced, so improvement looks assured. He's also avoided the other spring festivals, so he arrives here fresher than most. At 18/1 an each-way bet could reap a reward.

Kiss Will looked like the main threat to Soldier in Milan at the Irish National last month before falling two out. The drop back in trip will suit and should be thereabouts for each way (5 places).

Wingmen would have been just about the best of these over hurdles and he has got the pedigree to make a decent chaser, being by Kayf Tara and out of a Flemensfirth mare. He should go well at a decent price.

Spread Boss Ted looks an interesting contender on handicap debut and could offer solid each-way value off a mark of 139. His chase career started with a fall, but he quickly showed ability when finishing 4th behind the 157-rated Soldier In Milan, staying on well over 2m7f at Punchestown Racecourse. That run suggested there was more to come with experience. He built on that with a win at Naas Racecourse over 2m4f, getting up late to score by ½L. He travelled well and finished strongly, shaping like a horse with something still in hand. Looking further back, his bumper and hurdle form adds depth ??' finishing 4th behind Marine Nationale and also 4th behind Stellar Story, both high-class performers. That level of form hints that a mark of 139 may underestimate his ability. He appears versatile regarding ground, so yielding conditions should pose no issue, and the step into handicap company could unlock further improvement.

Donagh Meyler has had an excellent Punchestown so far with form figures of 32315511, and his mount He's Gorgeous is up near the top rated on both TS and RPR, as well as top-rated TR on ATR.

Karamoja showed promise when winning easily on her penultimate start. Her latest run was respectable. If improving from that handicap debut, she has fair claims to finish within the top five.

Nicely weighted and just having a second handicap start after not enjoying the testing ground on handicap debut. Gained a confidence-building novice win LTO at Down Royal on decent ground and should build on that here. 2 lb lower than when third behind Woodhah in the Martin Pipe last year.

Similar to our other each-way play, the forecasted aggressive pace in this massive field is expected to severely punish the prominent racers. This gelding is explicitly flagged by the data to thrive under these exact grueling conditions. Factoring in a colossal differential between his true historical ability and his allotted weight, he is significantly overpriced and perfectly drawn to pick up the pieces when the leaders inevitably stop.

Kish Bank looks overpriced in this field and could get at least a place in the first five home at 40/1 for Gordon Elliott.

Paul Nolan is a master of getting his string, who are seemingly out of form, to bounce back for the big prizes when it matters. With that, I will take a huge chance that Park of Kings for JP McManus could bounce back to run a decent race. It was rated 10 lbs higher than their current chase rating over the smaller obstacles. It is receiving weight from all rivals and, if not the worse for its run when the jockey was unseated three weeks ago, could well bounce back. It is weighted to go close if returning to anything like its hurdles form with Conor Stone Walsh back in the saddle.

This 7-year-old is very likely to perform well, particularly following his win in a Wexford beginners' chase. With Willie Mullins, a trainer in excellent form, at the helm, he has raced only a few times over fences, indicating he can still improve. His recent performances suggest he has promising each-way credentials.

Trainer has his only two entries in this race, and they have the same jockey on this one. Worth a small each-way saver bet for the five places available.