Theophilus worth waiting for in the last race at Punchestown today

Theophilus can take the closing race on a tricky card this afternoon at Punchestown.

Dessie McDonogh’s gelding looked a smart recruit to hurdling when making a winning debut at Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival in 2014, but wasn’t seen over obstacles again until Limerick, just a couple of weeks ago.

Having looked to have lost his form on the flat in the summer, he showed signs of a return to form when a close eighty behind Silver Concorde in the November Handicap, and that augured well for his return to jumping. However, he proved no match for potentially very smart Dicosimo. Outpaced when the action heated up for the first time, he stayed on stoutly to take second place behind the easy winner.