Today's tips: Sizing Platinum looks set to get back to winning ways at Punchestown
The eight-year-old had a profitable summer season in 2015, winning twice, finishing placed three times, and reaching a mark of 145.
He made his return with a modest effort in unsuitably soft ground at Thurles in February, before unseating in a Grade 1 event won by Kylemore Lough at the Fairyhouse Easter festival. On the latter occasion, he was contesting the lead until making a bad mistake and unshipping Johnny Burke.
Today’s quicker conditions should suit the selection more than it will many of his rivals and, with a fluent round of jumping, he can take this at the expense of bottom-weight Mr Fiftyone.
The latter has been a little frustrating over fences, but got his act together with a comprehensive victory last time out. While this is much tougher, he could be an improver, and should go close.
Time For Mabel can take the two-mile Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle for Edward O’Grady. The gelding won his maiden on testing ground at Ballinrobe in August of last year, but failed to add to it in three subsequent runs over hurdles.
However, on his return to jumping, last month at Killarney, he travelled strongly and found only Ancient Sands too good.
Raised four pounds for that defeat, he still looks quite well treated in this sphere. On today’s expected decent ground, he can take this competitive race at the expense of Bamako Moriviere.
The last-named was an eye-catcher on his debut for Willie Mullins, but has struggled to build on it. However, he has plenty of time to prove his worth, and would be very dangerous to dismiss.
Asthuria seems certain to go off the shortest-priced runner of the meeting when she contests the mares’ maiden hurdle, and anything bar a victory for Willie Mullins’ runner will be a major upset.
The five-year-old was pitched in at the deep end for her Irish debut, but ran a fine race to take third place behind Jer’s Girl in a Grade 1 Novice Hurdle for mares, at Fairyhouse. This is a huge drop in class.
