Horse Racing Tips: Take Tonnerre to deliver repeat Punchstown triumph

Punchestown, 16:50 - Back Petit Tonnerre each-way @ 12/113.00

Jonjo & A J O'Neill have enjoyed more success at festivals than Coldplay of late and Petit Tonnerre could add to their fine recent run with a repeat victory at Punchestown.

The English raider was sent off 16/1 to land this Listed Handicap Chase 12 months ago and made the most of a furious gallop and late pace collapse to power through and score under a typically efficient Richie McLernon ride.

The veteran Irishman enjoyed his best campaign for sometime last season, bagging a Cheltenham winner courtesy of Johnnywho (tipped up by yours truly on these pages), while he signed off the last campaign by winning the closing race at Sandown on Saturday for Faye Bramley.

His record on Petit Tonnerre stands at 2-2 courtesy of a Doncaster triumph and that win in this race last year and this will be the first time the duo have been reunited since.

An early error at Aintree ended the selection's competitiveness last time out, but three runs since the turn of the year have served to ensure his mark has slipped to 128, marginally higher than his rating when a decisive winner at last year's meeting.

Petit Tonnerre's stable were on the mark at Cheltenham and at Aintree with Wellington Arch and the son of Waldpark could complete a notable hat-trick here.

Southwell, 19:30 - Back Roberto Caro @ 11/53.20

There are plenty more glamorous races to bet on today than this Class 4 sprint handicap, however Roberto Caro appears to have a leading chance of gaining compensation for an unfortunate spin over course and distance back in February.

Making his return following a three-month absence, the Inns Of Court gelding stumbled badly after a couple of furlongs and did well to finish within three lengths of cosy winner Star Chorus, proving that under those circumstances he can be a potent threat in a race of this nature.

Two subsequent performances on turf have advertised the five-year-old's well being, especially his latest effort at Ripon in a strongly-contested handicap where he closed in on winner Kodiac Thriller late on.

Hopefully, Roberto Caro will enjoy better fortune through the formative stages of tonight's contest before being delivered with a strong challenge late on by Mikey Sheehy who takes over in the saddle from Oisin McSweeney.

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