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Horse racing tips

Karalee is a mare we think a lot of

Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins still have some big guns to fire at Punchestown
Ruby Walsh and Willie Mullins still have some big guns to fire at PunchestownCredit: Caroline Norris

Ireland's champion trainer with the lowdown on his runners at Punchestown on Saturday

Sambremont (3.10)
Sambremont disappointed on his last two starts and was pulled up in the Irish Grand National. But he has good course form having run second in the Grand National Trial in February and if he can find that level again he could get into the money in the 3m6f handicap chase.

Karalee (3.50)
Ruby has chosen to ride Karalee, who is a mare we think a lot of. She lacks experience having run only three times over hurdles. She's won both her starts for us and scored very easily at Limerick last time. She's always shown us plenty at home and while we might be asking a lot of her we thought she deserved a shot at the race. We think she is a mare with a very bright future.

Airlie Beach (3.50)
Airlie Beach won the Royal Bond at Fairyhouse in December but last two runs were disappointing. The drying ground should help her and although she's been finding it hard to recover her best form, she's capable of a big run.

Augusta Kate (3.50)
Augusta Kate, who took the Grade 1 mares hurdle over today's 2m4f trip at Fairyhouse's Easter meeting, was very good last time when she delivered on the promise she showed when falling at the last against Death Duty at Naas in January. On her Fairyhouse run, she has to have a serious chance.

Whiteout (3.50)
Whiteout, who won the same race a year ago, is the only one of our four who is not a novice. She ran quite well at Fairyhouse last time but will need to to improve if she is to take some of the prize-money.

Bapaume (4.25)
We've won the last four runnings of the Grade 1 AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle and we're hoping to keep the sequence going today. Bapaume has the best credentials. He has been very consistent and is a good jumper who does everything right. It's hard to see him not being seriously involved at the finish.

Dandy Mag (4.25)
Dandy Mag showed good improvement from his run in the Triumph Hurdle to finish second in a Grade 2 at Fairyhouse and a reproduction of that effort would put him in with a chance.

Meri Devie (4.25)
Meri Devie had a setback which prevented her running at Cheltenham but she seems fine and is fresh and well. She has the ability to run very well with her allowance.

The Crafty Butcher (5.00)
The Crafty Butcher goes in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase. He disappointed at Wexford last time but the form he showed when second in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase at Leopardstown after Christmas would put him in with a serious chance.

Bonbon Au Miel (5.35)
We're firing a big team at the Ballymore Handicap Hurdle in which Ruby has opted for the least experienced of the eight we've declared, Bonbon Au Miel. He's two from four over hurdles and is an improving sort that we think could be on a good mark for his first handicap.

Renneti (5.35)
Most of our other runners also have sound claims. Renneti came back to form with a good win at Fairyhouse recently and if he breaks with the others - he can be tricky at the start - he'll be in with a big chance.

Thomas Hobson (5.35)
Thomas Hobson also bounced back to form when winning at Fairyhouse and based on that performance he'll have a decent chance of getting a bite of the prize-money.

Open Eagle (5.35)
Open Eagle hadn't run for a long time before winning over three miles at Thurles last month and he has the ability to make his presence felt in his first handicap.

Allblak Des Places (5.35)
Allblak Des Places has been disappointing.

Livelovelaugh (5.35)
Livelovelaugh ran well at Fairyhouse last time and although three miles might suit him better, Ruby has told me to keep him to two and a half miles.

Pique Sous (5.35)
Pique Sous completes our team and finished well over two miles in a handicap on Tuesday, so we have decided to step him up in trip. He's in on bottom weight, with Rachael Blackmore claiming 3lb and could go well at a big price.

Published on 28 April 2017inHorse racing tips

Last updated 19:02, 28 April 2017

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