WEDNESDAY RACING TIPS

15:35 Ascot

ENEMY (WIN) WORDSWORTH (WIN)

16:10 Ascot

Both Go Bears Go and Hierarchy won first time up last season and after similarly impressive campaigns finished with a flourish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in November, finishing second and sixth respectively but with very little distance between the two on the line. I don’t expect there to be too much difference between them again here, and the form lines of the latter also tie in nicely with Wings Of War who held off the sustained challenge of Hugo Palmers’ runner to win the Mill Reef Stakes when last seen. He has to shoulder a small penalty for that Group 2 success but strikes me as the type to continue on an upward curve this season so with both trainer and jockey in good recent form he gets the vote to come out on top in what looks to be a decent renewal.

WINGS OF WAR (WIN)

17:20 Punchestown

The Nice Guy was a very impressive winner of the Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham in March, travelling strongly throughout the race and readily pulling five lengths clear of Minella Cocooner on the run in to keep his unbeaten record intact. Given his profile and in particular that latest performance it’s no surprise to see the Willie Mullins runner head the market and he could prove tough to beat.

That said, I am happy to side with Minella Crooner who was an early ante-post favourite for the Albert Bartlett before being forced to miss the race due to a slight injury, meaning he actually arrives here fresher than most of his rivals. He finished ahead of the re-opposing Hollow Games and Bronn when second behind Minella Cocooner at the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown in February, however that came over a shorter trip and he was closing the gap with every stride on the run up to the line. Unbeaten in two over this trip, with one of those victories coming here at Punchestown, he is the one I will be following.

MINELLA CROONER (WIN)

17:55 Punchestown

Clan Des Obeaux is the sole British challenger today and comes off the back of defeating Kemboy and Conflated, to win a second consecutive Betway Bowl at Aintree. He beat Al Boum Photo in this race last year, after winning at Aintree and has a nice record in Ireland. That being said, he hasn’t enjoyed the best of seasons and this is a lot tougher than the Betway Bowl. He’s still the best of the British though!

Galvin is a class act and comes with into this race off the back of a stellar season. He was narrowly denied by Frodon at the beginning, defeated subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard, at Leopardstown, then finished fourth in the Gold Cup when staying on strongly. He should benefit from, what you’d imagine to be, a strong pace today and has a good record at Punchestown. You’d presume he’ll run well again but he might just fall short.

Allaho has a big question mark over whether he will stay the three miles but on the basis of his earlier form, he should do. He’s a dual Ryanair winner who has been imperious this year. He’s got an advantage over his rivals, on the ratings and he’s the one to beat today.

ALLAHO (WIN)

written by Dean Kilbryde & Kieran McHugh