Take St Stephens to leave bookmakers feeling green

The jumps season continues to crank into gear and the first quality card of the season at Punchestown today adds to the general feeling that the winter game is definitely back, and there is a bit of quality about the two feature contests – but some of the betting opportunities lie elsewhere on the card.

The biggest field of the day goes to post for the Go Racing In Kildare Handicap Hurdle (2.45), in which Old Castletown is likely to be supported following his very narrow failure when returning to hurdles at Fairyhouse last Saturday.

However, it may pay to side with Cillian's Well who looks capable of going close for the often dangerous combination of Liz Doyle and Sean Flanagan.

He has dropped to a mark of 99, and the evidence of his most recent effort at Gowran would suggest it is a mark he can win off. He beat some of today's rivals in finishing fourth to Copy Print, but his momentum was halted when he was hampered three out and it took him too long to recover. Nevertheless, he caught the eye in way he came home and can get into the shake-up.

1pt each-way