Tipping / Timeform / 05 February 2012 /

Ireland has avoided the worst of the current cold spell and we have picked out three more SmartPlays on a very interesting card at Punchestown...

Some very promising types go to post for the Moscow Flyer Novice hurdle at 13:50. Caolaneoin is perhaps the best long-term prospect in the field but looks vulnerable at this trip. Simenon is another who is likely to need further than this in time and it was a weak maiden hurdle he won at Cork. Joxer got the better of Allure of Illusion in a C&D maiden hurdle last month but that form still leaves him with a bit to find to trouble Trifolium who ran as well as could have been expected behind So Young at Navan last time. Prior to that Trifolium had readily accounted for the experienced Plan A in a conditions event at Limerick and may just have too many gears for the opposition here.

With the Willie Mullins stable firing on all cylinders at the moment it is perhaps flying in the face of logic to suggest place laying a likely favourite from the champion trainer's yard. However, there are plenty of solid reasons to oppose Sergent Guib's in the Pertemps qualifier at 14:20. Sergent Guib's is the least experienced member of this nineteen-strong field having had just the three runs over hurdles and he was having his first start for two years when finishing third in a conditions event here last month. The handicapper doesn't appear to have taken any chances by allotting him a mark of 137 and 11-10 is a big weight to have to carry in these conditions. He has yet to race at further than two and a half miles but is up against some stout stayers here and, all in all, looks worth laying for a place at around [2.0].

Our final SmartPlay comes in the other big handicap on the card, the Grand National Trial at 15:25. Recent winners Up The Beat and In Great Form head the market here but one that makes plenty of appeal at a bigger price is Portrait King. Although still a maiden over fences, Portrait King looked like a horse well worth following in these contests when finishing a close second to Smoking Aces (1 lb worse off now) over a slightly longer trip than this at Fairyhouse in December. Michael Cullen has given his charge plenty of time to get over his exertions there and Portrait King looks sure to give another good account with conditions to suit.

Timeform Irish SmartPlays

Back Trifolium in the 13:50
Place lay Sergent Guib's in the 14:20
Win and Place back Portrait King in the 15:25

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