Tipping / Billy Nash / 21 April 2010 /

Timeform's Billy Nash gives his views on today's action at Punchestown...

Wednesday's card at Punchestown opens with a fiendishly difficult conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle (due off at 15:40) in which a maximum field of 25 are set to face the starter. Sivota went into many notebooks when finishing fourth to Un Hinged in a steadily-run contest at Fairyhouse last time, on what was his first start for Willie Mullins, and as he stays two miles on the Flat he should have little trouble with this step up in trip. However, one that could go well at a bigger price is Phillip Rothwell's Paco Jack. He lost his way somewhat after winning three chases for Joe Crowley during the summer but shaped as if on the way back to form behind Dancing Tornado at Naas last time. He is well treated over hurdles compared to his chase mark and has a capable pilot on his back in Declan Bates.

Things don't get any easier for punters with an 18-runner juvenile hurdle next on the card at 16:20. Son Amix is arguably the one to beat after running a cracker in the Fred Winter but the one I like is Sounds Of Jupiter. Charles Byrnes's gelding needs to improve on what he has shown over hurdles, but is still unexposed having had just three runs over flights and it is worth pointing out that his best Flat form is on a sound surface.

Ad Idem comes out top on Timeform figures in the Grade 3 Madra Irish Dog Food Novice Hurdle (16:55). He showed improved form to finish second to Quito de La Roque in a novice handicap over this trip at Fairyhouse and may be given most to do by Magnanimity who had plenty of these behind when winning a 2½m Grade 2 at that same meeting.

The feature race of the day is the Guinness Gold Cup at 5.30 and all eyes here will be on Denman as he bids to give Paul Nicholls his third win in the last four runnings of this race. He is the clear pick on form and provided he avoids the sort of mistakes he made at Newbury it is hard to see him getting beaten. The home challenge is headed by the progressive Joncol who has already won two Grade 1s this season, namely the John Durkan Memorial here and the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown. One of the biggest horses in training, Joncol, is unproven on ground as fast as this and may struggle to uphold Hennessy form with Cooldine who seemed to race a shade too freely for his own good at Cheltenham.

Of the others; J'y Vole ran a cracker in the Ryanair at the Festival and can't be ruled out if managing to see out this trip; Notre Pere, last year's winner, has been well below his best this season; Tranquil Sea clearly didn't do himself justice at Cheltenham but this trip is possibly a bit beyond him; Barbers Shop also needs to bounce back after a very disappointing show at Cheltenham, whilst it is unlikely that War of Attrition will be able to bow out in a blaze of glory, though he will have conditions in his favour.

Unfortunately, Cue Card, the winner of the Cheltenham Bumper, doesn't take his chance in the Paddy Power Champion I.N.H. Flat race at 18:05 but it is still a fascinating contest. Shot From The Hip, Tavern Times, Hidden Universe, Up Ou That and Bubbly Bruce all ran in that Cheltenham race and it would be slightly surprising if the winner didn't come from this quintet.

Bob Buckler had one of his finest moments as a trainer when Niche Market won the Irish Grand National last year and he will be hoping to plunder another big pot with The Sawyer in the Irish Daily Mirror Handicap Chase at 18:40. The Sawyer has been in great form this season, winning handicaps at Ascot and Cheltenham in January, and gets in here off a mark 9 lb lower than the one he ran off at Cheltenham last time. However, he hasn't run on ground as fast as this since his bumper days and this comes at the end of a hard season. He looks worth laying for a place in a competitive heat.

The concluding Brian Price Memorial Champion Hunters Chase isn't the easiest race to weigh up but one well worth keeping an eye on is Tyrone Golden Rain who has won five of his last six starts in points.

15:40 - Place Back - PACO JACK

16:20 - Win Back - SOUNDS OF JUPITER

18:40 - Place Lay - THE SAWYER

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