Today's Tips: Outlander can make winning start over fences at Punchestown
The Willie Mullins-trained seven-year-old was a high-class bumper and hurdle horse, and completed his stint over the smaller obstacles with a fine third behind stable companion Nichols Canyon in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at this track.
With the introduction of fences likely to prompt improvement from the son of Stowaway and Western Whisper, he should be able to make his mark at the very top level as the season unfolds. With the likes of Free Expression, Phil’s Magic and Futuramic in opposition today, this is a good test on his first start over the larger obstacles, but he is a confidence selection to make a winning chasing debut.
Tully East can carry top weight to victory in the Cavan Supporters’ Club Supporting Cavan GAA Novice Handicap Hurdle.
Although very disappointing when last of six behind Bachasson on his most recent start, the ease of his victory in a maiden hurdle at Listowel is difficult to ignore, and the return to soft ground for today’s race should prove to his liking.
Based on the visual impression of his Listowel success, a mark of 120 does not look harsh, and the promising five-year-old can get back on track by accounting for rivals headed by Prince Kup.
Love Rory can complete a hat-trick of victories in the Risk Of Thunder Chase, run over the banks course. Trained by Enda Bolger, who excels in these events, the selection is still just a seven-year-old and open to improvement in this sphere.
The 2013 renewal was most eventful but he showed a good attitude to get up late to claim victory at the expense of Sizing Australia. A year ago his victory was more emphatic, as he saw off the challenge of stable companion Keep On Track and former Cheltenham Cross Country Chase winner Big Shu.
He wasn’t mapped on his return to action, just 13 days ago, but that spin over hurdles should have put him right for this race, and he is preferred to high-class chaser and banks debutant On His Own, and Quantitativeeasing.
The opening hurdle, for juveniles, is typically trappy, but it’ll be interesting to see how Clonard Street takes to this discipline. A winner of a two-year-olds’ maiden at Galway on debut for John McConnell, he was subsequently purchased by JP McManus and sent to Tony Martin, where he made a bright start by finishing runner-up to Ol’ Man River in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh.
Since then, however, he has not progressed as anticipated, and the change of focus is most interesting. The market should be informative, but if he takes to hurdling and gets the trip, his class should be too much for his rivals.
