14:00 Punchestown
Min has won on first run of the season for the last three years and despite this looking like a decent little contest he should take all the beating today. He should appreciate the step back up to this trip and can give trainer Willie Mullins his fourth win in this race in the last six years.
Balko Des Flos put in a cracking run to beat Un De Sceaux in last seasons’ Ryanair Chase at The Cheltenham Festival and has winning form over course and distance, but was disappointing on seasonal re-appearance at Down Royal Last month so will need to step up on that performance if he is get competitive here, so the bigger danger looks to be Shattered Love who was also a Festival winner in March and had a much more encouraging start to the season when a close second to Snow Falcon just over a month ago.
MIN (WIN) – NAP
12:50 Huntingdon
Bags Groove was majestic when winning a Grade 2 race here at Wincanton last month, jumping boldly and travelling strongly throughout, beating the highly regarded Secret Investor by almost ten lengths with the remainder a further twenty lengths behind. He has to give weight away to all rivals but is still open to any amount of improvement after just three runs over fences and can bring up his hat-trick here today.
Both Red Rising and Now McGinty are potential improvers and worthy of a mention, however the main danger looks to be Thomas Campbell for the in-form Nicky Henderson stable. He got off the mark over fences at the second time of asking and shouldn’t have any stamina issues having won over three miles over the smaller obstacles.
Bags Groove (WIN)
Huntingdon
12:15 – Midnight Glory (WIN)
12:50 – Bags Groove (WIN)
13:20 – Brewin’upastorm (WIN)
13:55 – Sparkleandshine (WIN)
14:25 – Josses Hill (E/W)
15:00 – Kissesforkatie (WIN)
15:30 – The Boss’s Dream (WIN)
Kelso
12:00 – Leostar (WIN)
12:30 – Donna’s Diamond (WIN)
13:05 – West Of The Edge (WIN)
13:35 – Prince Dundee (E/W)
14:10 – Beeves (E/W)
14:40 – Sea Story (WIN)
15:15 – Triangle Rock (WIN)
Cork
12:05 – Band Of Outlaws (WIN)
12:40 – Presented Well (WIN)
13:10 – Robin De Carlow (WIN)
13:45 – Great Field (WIN)
14:15 – Forge Meadow (WIN)
14:50 – Chatham Street Lad (E/W)
15:20 – Eight And Bob (WIN)
Punchestown
12:20 – Ballyneety (WIN)
12:55 – Tornado Flyer (WIN)
13:25 – Auvergnat (WIN)
14:00 – Min (WIN)
14:30 – Getabird (WIN)
15:05 – Se Mo Laoch (WIN)
15:40 – Cenotice (E/W)
