'He'll be very hard to beat' - Justin O'Hanlon's best bets at Punchestown

Salmanino
2.40 Punchestown
2pts win

The Grade 2 SkyBet Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle and a superb turnout for the Grade 3 Madigan Group Novice Chase are the highlights of a fine card at Punchestown this afternoon. The bets of the day come late on the support card, beginning with the Sporting Life Beginners Chase (2.40).

This race is for horses rated 109 or less over hurdles and Wexford trainer Liz Doyle has a particularly strong hand. Old Soul, who is a recent handicap hurdle winner at this venue, is reported to jump well, but the one to beat is stablemate Salmanino. Winner of a 3m handicap hurdle here a year ago, the French-bred has looked better over fences, narrowly going down in a 2m5f beginners' chase at Cork in November before again filling the runner-up spot in a similar contest at Down Royal over Christmas.