Punchestowns aiming for knockout blow
Nicky Henderson’s Punchestowns bids to get his season back on track in the 40% Better Off On Betfair SP Graduation Chase at Kempton tomorrow.
The chestnut was second to Big Buck’s in the World Hurdle a couple of seasons ago and his novice chase campaign went largely to plan before he disappointed in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham.
He was narrowly beaten by another smart horse in Pride Of Dulcote on his seasonal reappearance at Newbury but then disappointed when a hot favourite for Cheltenham’s Argento Chase last month.
The eight-year-old’s owner Judy Wilson is sure her charge is better than that run however, although she admits the decision to turn out again less than a fortnight after his last run was made by her rather than her trainer.
“We want to see him bounce back and I felt sorry for the horse at Cheltenham,” said Wilson.
“I have to say I think he just got tired – there is no other way to describe it.
“Nicky came out and said afterwards that he felt he’d left him short and I have to say he actually wanted to wait and run him at Ascot next Saturday.
“But I’ve pushed to run him tomorrow, so it’s on my head really!
“I didn’t want to think it was distance that was the problem last time, but we have to give him the option of running over shorter now and see how we go.
“His best form over fences has been over a lesser distance and I don’t feel he’s shown us his true colours this season yet.
“Nicky says he’s in cracking form at home so we’ll keep our fingers crossed and people tend to forget he’s not had that much experience over fences.”
Punchestowns holds entries in the Ryanair Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup over fences at next month’s Festival, while he also has the option of reverting to the smaller obstacles for another crack at Big Buck’s.
But Wilson says no decision has been made and connections are likely to learn plenty tomorrow.
“Nicky hasn’t discussed Cheltenham with me at all yet. He has his entries there and I suppose Kempton will tell us a lot about where we’re going,” she added.
Just four horses go to post at Kempton, with Pasco, Bugsy’s Boy and Crack Away Jack taking on Punchestowns.
