Upmanship looks up to the task
Arthur Moore’s charge is admirably consistent and looks the best equipped to land a tricky looking five-runner contest.
He enjoyed a lucrative campaign last season, finishing second to Flagship Uberalles in the two mile Champion Chase at Cheltenham and landing a valuable event at Aintree.
The nine-year-old warmed up for this with a shock defeat at Naas two weeks ago. Starting at 2-9, he went down by three parts of a length to Copernicus.
Conor O’Dwyer, however, didn’t subject Native Upmanship to a hard race and the fact he has a run under his belt is a big plus.
A watching brief seems the best policy as far as First Gold is concerned.
He hasn’t been seen since disappointing in the King George at Kempton almost a year ago and, with conditions certain to be very testing, could struggle!
Rince Ri will handle the surface, but it took several outings for him to hit top gear last season and, again, he is probably best watched.
Only Solerina and Plenty Of Ice count in the INH Stallion Owners’ Novice Hurdle, but they do promise a fascinating tussle. Plenty Of Ice put up a smart performance to beat Kickham at Navan and could have too much pace for his rival over this two miles.
Solerina would almost certainly prefer further and was quite brilliant when scoring by 25 lengths over two miles and an extended six furlongs at Thurles last time.
But she also won over this trip at Thurles and was runner-up to Pizarro, over two and a half at Navan.
James Bowe’s mare is sure to go on from the start, will ask serious questions of her opponent and gets the nap.
Supreme Developer, expected to be all the better for the run by trainer Tony Mullins, still ges the nod to land the James Twomey Architects Maiden Hurdle.
He was one of the best bumper horses in the country last season, scoring twice in three runs and was sixth behind Rhinestone Cowboy at Cheltenham in the other, and his class can see him through his test.
Today’s Punchestown programme should carry a government health warning and it would be the height of folly to get over-involved.
Indeed, the only horse of any interest, Murphy’s Retreat, is actally only second reserve in the Bumper.
Given that there’s a huge field and his trainer, Christy Roche, has two runners there are grounds for thinking he might get in.
Murphy’s Retreat made a fine start at Navan when third behind stable companion, Lost Time, and subsequent winner, Mark The Man.
If he fails to make the line-up, keeping the hands deep in the pockets for the afternoon will be easily the best policy.
At Clonmel tomorrow Mirpour, runner-up to Golden Cross at Fairyhouse last Saturday, rates the safest proposition in the Clonmel Oil-Stat Oil Maiden.
