Sunday Racing Tips: Key Timeform data including a 9/4 Horse In Focus at Chelmsford

• Predators Gold can build on impressive chasing debut

• Lovely Reaction potentially well treated over fences

• Galaxy Wonder could have more to offer for Carroll

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Punchestown, 12:50 - Top-rated Predators Gold the one to beat

Predators Gold, a dual runner-up in Grade 1 novice hurdles in 2023/24, missed all of last season but showed that he retains plenty of ability when making a successful chasing debut at Navan last month, beating Slade Steel by a length and a half with the runner-up ten lengths clear of Wingmen in third.

That performance has been rated by Timeform as one of the best by a chasing debutant this season and marks Predators Gold out as the one to beat in the Grade 3 novice at Punchestown.

It's an interesting contest as four of the five runners, including Predators Gold, have the Timeform 'small p' to show that they are expected to improve. But Predators Gold heads Timeform's weight-adjusted ratings by 5 lb following his impressive display at Navan and looks the one to beat. 

Punchestown, 13:20 - Lovely Reaction open to improvement over fences

Lovely Reaction still has the Timeform 'small p' attached to her chase rating and is potentially well treated off a rating of 97 when you consider she was a nine-length winner off this mark over hurdles a couple of seasons ago. 

Lovely Reaction missed most of last season and was pulled up on her return to action in a three-mile handicap chase at Punchestown in November, but she was in the process of running a much better race at Fairyhouse a couple of weeks later only to fall three out.

That race was still unfolding so it's difficult to assess how Lovely Reaction would have fared, but she was travelling better than most of her rivals and left the impression she's capable of making an impact off her lower chase mark. 

Chelmsford, 16:42 - 'Horse In Focus' Galaxy Wonder has started well for Carroll

Galaxy Wonder made a promising start for Tony Carroll when third in a seven-furlong handicap at Kempton, particularly given he made his effort from further back than ideal and was racing over an inadequate trip. He duly built on that to bag a share of the spoils over nine and a half furlongs at Wolverhampton last month, but he was arguably unfortunate not to win outright and he was awarded Timeform's Horse In Focus Flag to mark him out as one likely to be of firm interest next time. 

Galaxy Wonder was briefly short of room on the home turn when trying to make headway, but he quickened up well when the gap appeared and edged his way to the front inside the final furlong.

It looked as if he had done just enough to deny a rallying rival as they passed the line, but the timing of the head-bob went against him and a dead-heat was called. He may not have done quite enough to secure an outright victory, but he pulled nicely clear of the third and still looks fairly treated off this 6 lb higher mark, especially as he could have more to offer for Carroll.

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