IRISH INSIDER

12:15 Punchestown

Seven horses face the starter for this Grade 2 contest which has been won by the likes of Min, Douvan and Vautour in the past decade. Willie has a strong hand and is responsible for the most likely winner in Dysart Dynamo. The progressive Westerner gelding is unbeaten in three starts to date which included a maiden hurdle victory at Cork, where the time was very good. He wore a first-time tongue-tie that day, which is retained and he’ll be hard to beat.

Stablemate Hawai Game won his only French start and is himself a smart prospect. He won well on his hurdles debut at Naas but this represents a big step up in class. Gringo D'aubrelle was Grade 1 placed at Newbury last month which is the best form on offer albeit he looks slightly exposed on the back of that run, against more progressive types. The £310,000 purchase Guily Billy has a point-to-point win to his name but flopped somewhat on hurdles debut and the form of his easy win at Tramore leaves him with something to find.

DYSART DYNAMO (WIN)

14:20 Punchestown

This Grade 3 event looks like a pretty straightforward assignment for the high-class Bob Olinger. Henry’s charge was a dual Grade 1 winner last season over hurdles, including when he accounted for Gaillard Du Mesnil in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. The former point to point winner opened his account over fences in style at Gowran Park and is difficult to look beyond him.

The aforementioned Gaillard Du Mesnil is also a dual Grade 1 winner over hurdles but was beaten at long odds-on when making his chasing debut at Naas last month. Stablemate Capodanno did well to win following a mistake late on in a Naas beginners race and should definitely fill the places, while Lifetime Ambition is another to consider in the place market even though he is making a relatively quick reappearance after chasing home Blue Lord at Naas.

BOB OLINGER (WIN)

written by Peter Keogh