Working Class Hero can strike at Punchestown
Working Class Hero lost by a head to the Willie Mullins-trained Emerald Enigma at Punchestown in May. Pic: Healy Racing
On Derby weekend, Working Class Hero would be a fitting winner of the bumper that closes Punchestown’s eight-race card on Saturday and the son of 2010 Epsom hero Workforce is fancied to oblige in the hands of jockey Harry Sexton.
The Tom Gibney-trained six-year-old didn’t make his Rules debut until the final race at this year’s Punchestown festival, coming home a distant second behind emphatic winner Crystasia.
He again found one too good on his return to the Kildare venue 11 days later, going down by a head to a promising type in the Willie Mullins-trained Emerald Enigma.
Working Class Hero may not need to improve on that run to make it third time lucky and ought to be tough to beat unless the Joseph O’Brien-trained newcomer Which Flannerys, an Order Of St George gelding, is above average.
Willie Mullins has a number of chances across the card with Livio perhaps his most likely winner in the second division of the Ladbrokes 'Big Daily Boosts On Racing' Maiden Hurdle.
A Grade Three winner on debut in his native France in September 2024, Livio shaped well on his Closutton debut at Killarney last month, finishing a close third behind Hi Ho Idaho and Splendid Fellow.
With improvement anticipated, he looks the one to beat.
The champion trainer can also provide the answer in the first division of this maiden hurdle with Easter Bonnet, an impressive winner of a Punchestown bumper last October before being pulled up at Navan a month later, fancied to make a winning debut over obstacles.
There’s more jumps action at Punchestown on Sunday with Willie Mullins again likely to dominate.
The most appealing Closutton runner comes in the Lily & Wild Mares Maiden Hurdle where Some Pretender is fancied to make a winning start over obstacles.
Victorious on debut in a mares’ bumper at Galway last August, Some Pretender finished third in three similar contests before finding Grade Three waters too deep at the Punchestown festival.
However, this looks a more winnable assignment and she ought to get the job done.
It could be a day to savour for jockey Anna McGuinness as Supersundae and Yoradreamer have obvious chances in the first two races on the card, the Bermingham Cameras Novice Chase and the Jim Ryan Memorial Novice Chase.
Sunday’s Flat fare comes from Navan where the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Cleodolinda can ensure the day gets off to the best possible start for punters by winning the opening race, the five-furlong Lynn Lodge Stud Irish EBF Maiden.
Having dwelt at the start on debut at Navan last month, The Ten Sovereigns filly ran on strongly to finish second to Matriarchal, half a length separating the pair at the line.
Sure to be more streetwise for that run, Cleodolinda should be tough to beat this time.
1.15 Switch From Diesel
1.50 Hashtag Pretender
2.25 Vicar Street
3.00 North Of Nashville
3.40 Easter Bonnet
4.20 Livio (NB)
4.55 Brother Walfrid
5.30 Working Class Hero (Nap)
1.15 Magico
1.50 Indiana Jones
2.25 Da Capo Glory
3.00 Tiffiny's Girl
3.40 Cailin Deas
4.20 Sestini
4.55 Angelo Dundee
5.30 Which Flannerys
1.22 Supersundae
1.57 Yoradreamer
2.32 Me Wee Bonnie Lass
3.07 Fenway Park
3.42 Some Pretender (Nap)
4.17 Le Questionnaire
4.52 Jackmoon
5.27 Al Arrivee
1.22 Sky Lord
1.57 Emily Love
2.32 Jalila Moriviere
3.07 Mary's Pride
3.42 Working Away
4.17 Jerry From Kerry
4.52 Morell River
5.27 Brave Lady
1.07 Cleodolinda (NB)
1.42 Stag Night
2.17 An Laochmor
2.52 Ocean's Breath
3.27 Hotazhell
4.02 Drop Dead Gorgeous
4.37 Deluca Chop
5.12 Jurality
1.07 Desert Alchemist
1.42 The Highway Rat
2.17 Jordan Breeze
2.52 Nouvel Espoir
3.27 Wemightakedlongway
4.02 La Fogata
4.37 Mapa
5.12 Mephisto
