Matty Sutcliffe has his eyes on profits on the final day at Punchestown. Across two races, he has three selections, including two British contenders who can snare more prizes for the visitors.
3:05 Punchestown Oaklodgelandscapes.ie Handicap Chase (5yo+ 0-145) Hasthing 1pt EW 5 places
Richie McLernon had hit the crossbar on two occasions at Punchestown prior to his well timed ride on Petit Tonnerre on Thursday, and he reunites with HASTHING, who he’s two from two with.
The Konig Turf gelding has progressed well over fences this season, bettering his RPR with each effort prior to being brought down early on in the Scottish Grand National. He was an eye-catcher in the ever competitive Swinley handicap at Ascot in February, staying on in dour fashion in the manner of one who’d appreciate a trip of this nature.
He stepped up in trip again in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham, and ran a credible race prior to falling at the last. He made good headway through the field in the manner of one well handicapped still, and while he likely wouldn’t have got to the impressive winner, it wasn’t out of the question he’d have been booked for second. He’s a pound lower this time around, and given both the winner Haiti Couleurs (now 17lbs higher) and the fourth Resplendent Grey (now 5lbs higher) have healthily franked the form since, a mark of 132 looks more than workable.
He confirmed his stamina for the trip at Cheltenham, unsurprisingly given he’s from the family of the 2007 Classic Chase winner and 2006 Scottish Grand National runner up Ladalko, as well as a Pau winner over 3m4f.
4:15 Punchestown – Palmerstown House Estate Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+ 0-150) – Majestic Force 1pt WIN + Bill Baxter 0.5pt ew 5 places
Henry De Bromhead won this in consecutive years with Heron Heights and he hit the frame in three of the next four renewals (six-length fifth in 2023), thus the unexposed MAJESTIC FORCE merits strong consideration.
She’s 2/2 outside of mares company, firstly when landing a 2m4f Maiden Hurdle here last season from a trio of subsequent winners, then latterly in March on her third start over fences when taking a Wexford Beginners Chase a shade cosily despite the length winning distance.
Connections evidently thought she was smart enough to contest the Dawn Run last season, and she wasn’t disgraced by any means in fifth beaten fourteen lengths. The key piece of form to judge her on is her 1/2L second to Spindleberry on chase debut, with the pair pulling thirteen lengths clear of the third and the winner is now rated 148 after a Listed chase success at Fairyhouse, before returning there to land the Fairyhouse Gold Cup.
We can draw a line through her effort at Naas around a time where barely any of De Bromhead’s horses were firing, and off a mark of 126 she could potentially be thrown in to take her record right handed to 5/5.
The other of note toward the rear end of the weights is BILL BAXTER, who’s very well handicapped off a mark of 126 given he landed the Topham as a novice chases off 133 two seasons ago. Warren Greatrex’s son of Milan has went off the boil the following season, perhaps struggling off a lofty revised mark of 143, but the signs this season have quietly suggested he’s ready for a return to the winners enclosure.
He was a four-length second back over hurdles at Uttoxeter in November, and somewhat backed that effort up in class two company at Chepstow, with the pair of those efforts likely to have been pipe openers/confidence boosters for going back over fences.
He unseated Daire Davis too early in the Peter Marsh chase at Haydock in January to judge his ability back over fences, but there was enough to like about his staying on nine length fourth off top-weight in the Dick Hunt Trophy, giving some 23lbs to the winner who was evidently well mapped out for the race.
If he can build on that effort, then he’s of major interest off Harry Bannister’s lowest racing weight, who’s five from sixteen for the yard in the last 12 months.
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