7.45pm Punchestown Tips & Betting Preview 28/04/2017

J J Codd and Gordon Elliott are a formidable force in bumpers and ITS ALL GUESSWORK should not be given up on just yet after showing promise in both of his runs so far for top connections. He went straight over hurdles for his first start where he finished seventh, keeping on and not beaten far by some potentially useful types that day. He made his bumper debut at Leopardstown two months later where he came sixth, not giving his running and finishing well beaten in the end. He is clearly capable of much better as indicated by that hurdling and his pedigree suggests that this sort of trip should be his optimum. He looks set to close with better ground a likely big help and he should not be underestimated.

It is becoming rare not to see the colours of Ann & Alan Potts in the winning enclosure and Beyond The Law will be flying the flag for them in this for Mouse Morris. Making his bumper debut for the Hourigan yard back in March 2016 when finishing fifth, he won a point-to-point in January where he was subsequently snapped up by the Potts partnership and moved to Mouse Morris. He made his debut for the yard when second in a bumper behind a Gordon Elliott hotpot at Navan last month, keeping on well and clear of the third. With natural improvement he is entitled to be going close, though ground is certainly a question mark in this. Nevertheless, a bold bid is expected and he deserves a second look.

Noel Meade’s yard are in good form at present and Moyross is entitled to be involved if channeling the form of his bumper debut at Leopardstown over the Christmas Period. In that run he was not beaten far by Carter McKay and Bakmaj who were both smart bumper recruits in their own right. He was unable to follow that up though when well beaten at Fairyhouse in January, unable to go with the front three and looking one paced. He is surely capable of better and he has been given a 103 day break, so it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form in a big way in this. D J Benson takes off a useful 5lb and he has definite place claims at the very least.

David Pipe brings over Warthog and, although he has something to find in terms of form, he showed promise on debut and should have progress in the tank with a nice looking pedigree. Winner of a point-to-point back in December, he made his bumper debut last month at Chepstow when keeping on to finish second as he was just lacking that final gear change, likely due to lack of experience. He should be far more clued up this time around and Patrick Mullins taking the ride is another big positive. He should be in contention for the placings with this better ground perhaps able to eke out some further progress.

Showing an equal level of form in two bumpers for Warren Greatrex, Flemenskill comes over from Lambourn as the British look to go back-to-back in the race after Philip Hobbs’s No Comment won the race last year. Prominent all the way to the furlong marker before becoming badly one paced and dropping away, he showed promise on his Carlisle debut. He was once again sent off a short priced favourite at Ffos Las on his latest start where he finished second after trying to make all. Whether he will be allowed a lead in this is certainly debatable, but Greatrex does very well in these races and this better ground may help his stamina in order to sustain his finishing effort. Barry O’Neill takes the ride and he looks a solid each way contender if showing some progression.