Horse racing ideas – 31 December: Punchestown and Lingfield Park
Our New Year’s Eve racing ideas embody a long-term absentee hoping to return to successful ways and a three-year-old on a powerful run of form
It’s the ultimate day’s racing of the decade and there are 4 conferences going down this afternoon. They go jumping at Punchestown, Uttoxeter and Warwick, whereas there is an all-weather card from Lingfield Park.
Hopefully, we will end the year with a couple of winners on the very least. Our main choice is a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who is returning to the monitor in Ireland, whereas we also have a chaser who ought to profit from being eased at school.
Odds correct on the time of publishing and are topic to change
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Sizing John could make profitable return over hurdles
It has been two years since Sizing John has seen a racecourse however the 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner is back in motion in the Bet With Tote At Punchestown Hurdle (Punchestown, 1.45) where he could make a victorious return.
Sizing John is fit and healthy again, and, given he is only 9, should not be forgotten about. Not only has he been successful within the blue riband occasion on the Cheltenham Festival, he is a five-time Grade 1 winner, including success at the highest degree over hurdles.
This shall be an interesting test for Jessica Harrington’s runner as he will come up towards Stratum, who won the Cesarewitch on the Flat at Newmarket again in October, whereas Burrows Saint was the winner of the 2019 Irish Grand National.
As lengthy as Sizing John does not have too many cobwebs to shake off, he should have the class to come back out on top right here. The bookmakers make him a 4/1 probability on his return to action and that appears too beneficiant to overlook out on.
Drop down in school will assist Kupatana to attain again
Kupatana was a winner of a Listed contest at Cheltenham last season. Her type since then has taken a dip however don’t let that put you off backing her in this Tote Proud Sponsors Of Punchestown Mares Chase (Punchestown, 12.40).
Only 5 runners have been declared for this contest in which Henry De Bromhead’s chaser will have to concede weight to all four of her rivals. But if she returns to anywhere close to her greatest she is going to take all the stopping.
The six-year-old now has the good thing about two runs beneath her belt this season. This drop down in stage is precisely what she needs at the moment to get her confidence again up.
With two victories to finish her marketing campaign again in April, lots would have been expected from Kupatana this season. Although it hasn’t fairly gone to plan simply yet, a win right here will help her get again on track.
De Bromhead’s runner will wear a tongue tie for the primary time which might make a giant difference to the way in which she settles. Take her at 7/1 to carry top weight to victory.
Jackstar to continue spectacular all-weather record
Jackstar has an excellent report on the all-weather floor with two wins from three begins thus far and he can add to his tally within the Bombardier Golden Beer Handicap (Lingfield, 2.45).
The three-year-old’s latest win came on the Tapeta at Wolverhampton over this seven-furlong distance. That run was his first after being gelded and he made all at Dunstall Park, staying on properly beneath pressure in the ultimate furlong.
The handicapper has raised Tom Dascombe’s runner 3lb in the weights however he can defy that rise as is more likely to be far more to come back on this surface the place he is 11/4 to prevail as quickly as once more.