Punchestown Sunday Preview - 15/11/20

With no bet in the first race of the day we move straight onto the Grade Two Novice Chase over a staying trip and the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle runner up Latest Exhibition takes the eye.

The Paul Nolan trained gelding went from strength to strength last season over hurdles landing three out of his five contests, seeing off some of the best novices throughout the year including Andy Dufresne, Fury Road and Longhouse Poet.

The only horse to beat him last term came when when he was tried at two miles which showed that he was a stayer and not a pace merchant and he was outclassed by the Gordon Elliott trained Abacadabras who finished a narrow second in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

His win in the Grade One Novice Hurdle at the Dublin Racing festival saw him tackle his furthest trip over two and three-quarter miles and proved to bring the best out of him.

He was an unlucky runner up on his final start over hurdles when just being pipped on the line in the Grade One Albert Bartlett at the festival.

Now chasing, the seven year old made a very pleasing debut over course and distance at Punchestown, when jumping to a good standard and landing a Beginners Chase.

He will have to step up again in tougher company this time but looks a potential chasing star in the making.

Another nice race follows with the Listed Hurdle over 2 miles 2 1/2 furlongs and hot field of five runners goes to post and we like the look of Black Tears for Gordon Elliott.

The six year old mare was highly consistent over timber last term, running six times and only finishing outside the placings once, going on to win a big handicap hurdle at the Dublin Racing Festival.

The form from that race has been franked with the third winning the Mares Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and Black Tears also franked the race when second last time out at Cheltenham in the Coral Cup.

That form should work out well with the winner Dame De Compagnie looking like a graded horse in a handicap and if this mare can reproduce that form on seasonal debut she is the horse to beat.

It could be a superb day for Gordon Elliott as he fields the impressive Fury Road in the Grade Two Celebration Hurdle and if fit, he should not get beat.

The six year old was a star over hurdles last term, racing five times and landing a hat-trick on his first three starts before being pitched into tough events and still hitting the frame on all his runs.

Having been impressive on debut in a maiden at Down Royal and backing that in a Grade Three at Navan, he then went to Limerick over Christmas to land a decent Grade Two Novices' Hurdle.

At the Dublin Racing Festival he could only finish fourth of eight in his first ever Grade One event, but came on massively for that run to finish third in a photo-finish behind Latest Exhibition and Monkfish in the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival.

He is back making his seasonal debut in a weak event for his standards and all being well should start his campaign with a win.

The feature race of the day at Punchestown is the Grade One Morgiana Hurdle over two miles and the Gordon Elliott trained Abacadabras, should come on loads for his seasonal debut to land this event.

The six year old gelding started his life over hurdles last season in great style showing clear pace in the final stages of his races.

Having landed a decent contest at Gowran on his seasonal debut last term, he then went on to take a Grade Three at Navan showing clear progression.

Although finishing second on his next start it saw him give his best performance to date when a narrow second to the superstar Envoi Allen in a Grade One at Fairyhouse.

He then headed to the Dublin Racing Festival and he landed his first Grade One of his career in the future Champions Novice Hurdle.

It was all systems go for the Supreme Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham festival and he finished a narrow second to the smart Shishkin in a photo-finish, which looks incredible form.

Staying over hurdles this term he made his debut in the Grade Two WKD Hurdle at Down Royal and although only finishing second behind Aspire Tower, the run would have done him good and he should be fit for this event.

The final event of the day is a decent bumper over two miles and Elliott holds a strong hand in the race with three chances, but his best one looks to be Hollow Games.

The four year old gelding was bought for £255,000 at Cheltenham in March after convincingly landing a point to point event at Turtulla.

The owners had a successful bumper horse in Queen's Brook last season and they are hoping this gelding can be the same, if not better in ability then her.