Events / Johnny Ward / 29 April 2009 /

Wednesday's Guinness Gold Cup card at Punchestown could well prove to be the most beneficial of the week for layers: there are seven tough races to find a winner in. Johnny Ward previews the action.

The feature is what can only be described as a moderate Punchestown Guinness Gold Cup, in which Cooldine is declared but presumably will not run.

Notre Pere has done nothing but improve this season and the worsening conditions will suit him more than any other horse. At around [4.20] he is a hopeful choice and his Hennessy form - when he gave Neptune Collonges something of a race - would entitle him to go close here. Air Force One has last year's win at Punchestown in his favour but comes here on the back of being effectively tailed off the last thrice. It would say a good deal about the quality of the race if he won.

Albertas Run has had an in-and-out post-novice campaign but showed a bit more in the Aintree Bowl and will certainly be fancied. War Of Attrition has no chance after the rain that has fallen, and it remains to be seen how much it will suit Ryanair hero Imperial Commander, who won the Paddy Power Gold Cup on softish ground. I think he remains a somewhat doubtful stayer over this trip (has not won beyond the Ryanair distance) and the ground emphasises the need to get home even more.

The opening apprentices' handicap hurdle is no easier to solve on account of the rain. Colm Murphy's Lady Steppes has a good jockey in Shane Hassett but a 210-day break to deal with; the betting here will be interesting pre-race.

However, the Northern raider Kyles Turn might be underestimated in the betting on the basis that so little is known about his trainer. He landed a gamble in maiden hurdle at Navan, having previously shown useful form in bumpers and maiden hurdles.He stayed on gamely that day on heavy ground and the handicapper has given him a chance off a mark of 109. He is a tentative suggestion at likely big odds.

The Louis Fitzgerald Hotel Hurdle features a replay of the clash between Manor Park and Coffee Tea Or Me, which the latter won narrowly at Cork. The revised weights give Manor Park a fair chance of form reversal. It is a concern that a horse with such useful snippets of hurdles form remains a maiden but his liking for bad ground enhances his appeal. The ground is also a probable negative for Willie Mullins' runner.Moville appears held by Coffee Tea Or Me on Fairyhouse form but the different conditions here could rule out a repeat. Moville handles the slop and has a chance.

Most eyes are on Dunguib in the champion bumper, and I would advise punters to wait until later in the day to back Philip Fenton's exceptional prospect.He hacked up at Cheltenham but is not bred to like ground so deep. It did not stop him beating Luska Lad et al at Naas but he is likely to be slightly less invincible and his odds will probably ease a little.
Universal Truth gets a nice chunck of age-allowance weight here and could turn out to prove the main danger, for all that he has to improve on form. This race might be best-watched.

The Madra Dog Food 21st Anniversary Novice Hurdle features a renewal of rivalry between Palace Merano and Across The Bay.When they clashed at Navan over two miles and seven furlongs, there was little between them. Palace Merano won but is now two pounds worse off and the lightly-campaigned Across The Bay just might get the better of it. This looks another open race.

The handicap chase is another tough one and Ferdy Murphy's De Boitron should run well, but this is much more competitive than the races he has contested this year.I will take a chance on Arthur Moore's Plaisir D'Estruval, who won on similar ground over this trip in very easy fashion at Down Royal earlier this year.

Admittedly it is hard to be sure if he has much to spare off his mark but he has a feather weight - a big help given the conditions - and Arthur Moore won the race last year.

They close with another trappy event in the novices' chase. Jayo will take plenty of beating on his early-season form and he is forgiven his last couple of moderate efforts. Conditions are fine here and he is the class act. Melon Delta's chance might be gone with the worsening conditions.

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