Horse Racing Tips: Rhys Williams is hoping Rocky will be worth the wait at Punchestown

• Promising last start in point

• Not too much depth in quality in opposition

• Rockymountainbleu is overpriced w/o the fav at Punchestown

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Punchestown - 15:10 - Back Rockymountainbleu w/o the fav

It's been a little over a year since Rockymountainbleu put in a performance in an Irish point that caused me to note him down as a horse of interest if switching to racing under rules and that finally happens today.

The wait was lengthened by him being a non-runner in a couple of bumpers due to the ground in recent weeks. It was soft ground when he was taken out at Wexford and good ground at Clonmel so hopefully the ground today will be just right and he can take his chance.

Rockymountainbleu showed some promise on his debut at Fairyhouse when given a patient ride before making a big move to be in contention jumping four out but he couldn't sustain that effort late on and had been dropped by the leaders before falling at the last.

It might be that he was feeling the effects of that when returning quickly at Grennan and running terribly next time and he certainly showed far more after a break at Tinahely. He was given a patient ride again and was last turning down the back straight for the final time. He was starting to make a little headway when he was badly hampered by Cash Cut unseating at three out which left him around fifteen lengths behind the leader turning out of the back straight. He made plenty of headway on the very long run to two out and jumped that in a share of third and he continued to close on Iriko D'airy all the way to the line but couldn't quite catch him.

The winner had run well on debut behind Down Memory Lane and Fever Dream while the third, Impakt St Georges, was given a rating of 107 over hurdles in Ireland and the fourth is rated 103 over hurdles in Britain.

The speed that Rockymountainbleu showed between three and two out suggests that he's likely to be suited by this trip and I think the switch to hurdling could bring improvement from him too as he did tend to get a bit low at fences in points.

There is the concern that whatever has kept him off the track for over a year could mean that he's not as good as he was or that today will be more about bringing him along on his education.

Rather than taking on Sounds Victorius, I think the more attractive option is the without the favourite market and I think Rockymountainbleu is far more of a danger to his rivals in that market than the prices currently suggest. Any 8/19.00 or bigger appeals.

Now read Daryl Carter's Friday tips here