Irish Racing / Wayne Bailey / 26 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Wayne Bailey marks your Irish card where a few familiar faces make their reappearance, including Tony Martin's Psycho.

“With JP McManus and Tony Martin involved with this race, the market should prove very interesting indeed - but from an outsider’s point of view, it’s a very tricky contest to call.”

Tony Martin is one of those trainers I can never get right; so I've been debating with myself all Monday evening whether or not to back Psycho in the Punchestown Go Racing In Kildare Hurdle (1.55). It's probably fair to say that the eight-year-old should have more than two wins under his belt and he was definitely robbed of a victory in Leopardstown's Pierse Hurdle back in January when Penny's Bill ([90.0]) took advantage of the Irish weight rule and chinned him on the line.

My own ratings have Psycho roughly 3lbs clear under these conditions but as mentioned, I can't seem to make the right call with Martin's yard and tend to steer clear from backing (or laying) his horses whenever possible. A cousin of mine once had a horse with the stable but I can assure you that I never got wind of any of the gambles that they are famous for landing!

Noel Meade usually has his horses in good form at this time of the year so JP McManus' latest import Rahan De Marcigny is noteworthy, especially with Tony McCoy on board.

Also, if I've read the formbook correctly Beau Michael could have what it takes to win, and the five-year-old has been rarely out of the frame in recent times.

With JP McManus and Tony Martin involved with this race, the market should prove very interesting indeed - but from an outsider's point of view, it's a very tricky contest to call and I've decided to take a watching brief instead.

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In the opening Dobbins Catering at Punchestown Maiden Hurdle (1.55), The Hurl gets a tentative vote to go one better than his second place in a similar race at this venue earlier this month. The Mouse Morris trained gelding hit [1.52] in-running on Betfair but ran out of steam when it mattered, although his place price of [14.4] was very generous with the benefit of hindsight.

He looks like a chaser really, and we'll probably see him go over fences before long - but for now, I'll chance a half-point win bet on the six-year-old to claim his first scalp over timber. There are plenty of unexposed animals in the field, any of which may prove dangerous, hence my cautious stake.

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In the Madigans Bars at Punchestown Maiden Hurdle (2.25), I'll take advantage of Betfair's place-only market and put a few sheckles on Qualviro. He has the form behind him to take a maiden hurdle, but he's not the most consistent animal in the world and often has trouble jumping. Indeed, he was very disappointing in his latest two starts but I still believe he's a better horse than those races suggest and today's assignment looks a little easier as he likes the heavy ground.

The big danger of course, is Jessica Harrington's Hugo De Vindecy and his two bumper races at Fairyhouse (won) and Leopardstown (third) were impressive.

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Two hours later in the bumper (4.25), Summit Meeting looks overpriced around [5.0] in the early markets. This one is also trained by Harrington and I stuck the son of Sadler's Wells in my notebook following his second place at Listowel last-time-out. It was clear that the winner that day wouldn't be caught - but the selection beat a number of decent horses on the day and could go one place better here.

Being an Irish bumper, the obvious danger is Willie Mullins' Vertige Dore; a horse that is likely to come on for his debut run last month. However, even money or thereabouts is a little too low for my liking and I'm happy to oppose on this occasion.

Best of luck with your Punchestown betting!

Tags: Irish Racing, JP McManus, Psycho, Punchestown, Qualviro, Summit Meeting, The Hurl, Tony Martin, Wayne Bailey, Willie Mullins