Punchestown Sunday Preview - 17/01/21

The first race of the day at Punchestown on Sunday sees one of the spectacles of the day in Ireland with Envoi Allen giving 11lb to Asterion Forlonge in the Grade Three 2m4f Killiney Novice Chase and although it looks his toughest test yet, we can't see past Gordon Elliott's superstar.

Envoi Allen has been one of the leading jumps horses in the sport over the last two years and now stepping up to go over fences this term, everyone just wants to know how good he can truly be.

The Cheveley Park owned stud is a dual Cheltenham festival winner having taken the Champion Bumper and Ballymore Novices hurdle in consecutive years and is gearing his season towards a third straight win at the event in the Marsh Novices' Chase.

The six year old has gone from strength to strength under Elliott landing all 11 of his races to date, winning one point to point, four bumpers, four hurdle contests and also extended his winning run last time out in his first Grade One win over fences.

Stepping over the bigger obstacles this season, he was very impressive at Down Royal, jumping his fences superbly and showing his classy travelling ability as he has throughout his career.

Elliott then stepped him up to Grade One company at Fairyhouse in the Drinmore Novice Chase and gave another standout performance to take the event by close to nine lengths.

He is looking to make it three from three over fences on Sunday in this Grade Three event, but he will be giving serious weight away to some classy horses and will have to be at his best.

The big race of the day is the Grade Two Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, that in the past has been won by the likes of Douvan, Min and Vatour.

This year we think Master McShee will be tough to beat with his form over hurdles stacking up all season long and he looks to be the most progressive in the field.

He made his hurdles debut at Cork on November and he finished a bright second behind the superstar Appreciate It for Willie Mullins, who has since gone on to frank the form by landing a Grade One over two miles.

Master McShee also franked the form of that race two starts ago when heading back over the same course and distance to get off the mark for the season and the second place in that race has since won next time out.

Keeping the good run of form going, the seven year old made it two wins in a row when winning a handicap hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas meeting by five lengths.

Although he is stepping up for his first black type event, he has not done anything wrong this term and looks one of the more likely winners.

A Maiden Hurdle over two miles follows next and there looks to be one stand out runner for us in this 20 strong field and it comes in the way of Colonel Mustard.

The Lorna Fowler trained six year old has the best for heading into the event, running three times this term and not finishing outside the top two in any of them, winning at the second time of asking.

The gelding made his debut in a bumper in August and finished a nice second at Killarney and then a month later backed that up nicely when getting off the mark comfortably.

At the end of October Fowler decided to send him over hurdles and he took to the task really well finishing second behind the Grade One winning Ballyadam.

That piece of form stands on it own heading into the event and he looks the pick of the bunch with 3lb claimer Conor Orr taking the weight off.

The final selection from Punchestown on Sunday comes in the lucky last and the horse we are siding with in the 3m1f Handicap Chase is Spades And Trumps.

The Gavin Cromwell trained eight year old has a lot in his favour for this race, being weighted to have a real crack at this field with the added bonus of a handy 5lb claimer taking even more weight off.

The eight year old is also much older than most the runners in the field which should give him a slight edge and if handling the step up in trip looks a big player.

Having finished second on his first run of the season at Wexford, he went to this track next time out in a good standard handicap and could only finish midfield.

Cromwell is hoping the step up in trip can improve him, with him also handling the ground in the past.

He looks a nice each way bet at the prices.