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Published 13:44 26 Apr 2016 BST
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The Kilashee Handicap Hurdle at 4.55pm may be the first chance the bookmakers have to breathe as historically, it's been a hard contest to predict.
With just one winner priced at single digits in the last decade, it's worth taking a punt, and our shop customers have the added safety net of getting their money back as a free bet if their selection finishes second or third to the SP favourite.
I'm siding with the top weight Macnicholson. He was the runner-up last year, beaten under a length and really gets a spring in his step at this time of year. At his current price he's worth an each-way poke and has a competent jockey aboard in Paddy Kennedy.
Vautour shocked us all with his fall in Liverpool and looks the obvious choice to make amends in the Champion Chase at 5.30pm.
For some reason though, I'm drawn to a horse who we've seen just once on the race track in three years, and that Nicky Henderson's Simonsig. The 10 year old was once brilliant but as Nicky Henderson has proved emphatically this season, he is the maestro and nursing a big gun back to glory.
The Land Rover Bumper at 6.05 is tricky, Brelade must have a good chance of giving the always powerful Gordon Elliot yard back-to-back wins, but for fun I'm having a small each-way wager on Katie Walsh's mount, Ale Ambrosio, named after the Brazillian super model and hope that she too turns heads this evening.
Outlander, the beaten favourite on his last run at Fairyhouse looks a leading contender for the Growise Champion Chase at 6.40pm, as does Zabana who was heavily backed at Cheltenham before dumping Davy Russell at the start.
I'm more inclined towards a less exposed runner in Henryville, a British raider with a much lighter campaign this season, but fresher legs perhaps.
In the last, the Donohue Marquees INH Flat Race at 7.15pm, I like the look of Someday, ridden by Kate Harrington, who has been riding out of her skin this season. Her mom, Jessica Harrington has a good record in bumpers at the meeting so it could be worth opposing the favourite with this one.
Happy Punchestown!
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