Weekend Preview: Like A Demon can wrap up 2016 on a positive note

Punchestown plays host to the final meeting of the year, and Like A Demon gets the nap to wrap up 2016 on a positive note. Nigel Slevin’s horse was returning from a long absence when running The Irregular to three parts of a length, in a handicap hurdle three weeks ago at Clonmel.

His previous outing was in this race in 2015, when he finished third behind Ice Cool, which gave the form plenty of boosts on his way to a 22lb higher mark. The bounce factor shouldn’t be an issue for Like A Demon, and he can take this at the expense of Wee Tiger, who ran well over a longer trip last time, and has strong place claims once more.

Edwulf will be hard to beat in the opening race, a beginners’ chase. Joseph O’Brien’s horse ran reasonably well when third behind Min on his seasonal debut, and, last time out, would likely have finished second behind Thursday’s Grade 1 winner Our Duke, had he not unseated at the last in a beginners’ chase.