It would be brilliant to see PAISLEY PARK take the Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown today after proving he still has plenty of life in him yet. After winning the Cleeve he finished a fast finishing third at the Festival and that bare form should make him favourite here in my opinion. However, you can openly back him at 7/1 and to me that is a huge price in what is a flakey race. He will hit a flat spot but his staying ability might just see him beat a below par field.
James’s Gate islikely to be a warm order for the closing bumper but the different ground conditions he faces today might not make him the certainty that some may think he is. I was really keen on JOEYUX MACHIN at the festival at a huge price but he really didn’t cope with the awful ground on offer that day. He should be better suited to this better ground and his earlier form entitles him to be a huge player here and like Paisley Park he is a decent price.
Punchestown 5.25 – Paisley Park
Punchestown 7.45 – Joyeux Machin