Horse Racing Tips: Fact could be the second coming

We have a feast of National Hunt racing ahead of us on Sunday, with the Grade 1 John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase taking centre stage. Punchestown’s top-notch card kicks us off and is swiftly followed by Uttoxeter, Cork and Exeter.

Amongst Sunday's horse racing tips is a Willie Mullins runner in the big race of the day that could go all the way to the top this term.

Today's Horse Races

13:15 Punchestown - Great Universe @ 6/1

This competitive-looking Pertemps qualifier could be a race to keep an eye on as there will be several Irish Cheltenham Festival hopefuls looking to make the cut. The most interesting runner here is Martin Brassil’s GREAT UNIVERSE who is potentially unexposed upon his return to handicaps.

The son of Universal won a race at Clonmel by 25 lengths in his bumper days and bumped into a couple of particularly good ones in two subsequent starts in that sphere, including the great Ballyburn.

Finishing third in his first two starts over hurdles, he was a little disappointing on handicap debut at Listowel over 2m4f in September after that but may well have needed the run.

The step up to an extended 3m1f clearly suited at Sligo next time as he was an easy winner on his return to maiden hurdles, scoring by seven lengths. The handicapper has responded with a substantial 13lb rise but he’s unexposed over staying trips and there could be more to come.

14:25 Punchestown - Fact To File @ 9/4

Few horses were more impressive last term than FACT TO FILE and connections appeared to make the right decision to skip hurdles and go straight over fences. He looks like a potential Gold cup winner and this race is a good starting point for the season.

Willie Mullins’ gelding wasn’t far from the top of the tree in bumpers and was runner-up in the 2023 Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. He jumped and travelled like a special horse when impressively beating the useful Zanahiyr at Leopardstown last December.

It was the way he absolutely trounced Arkle winner and stablemate Gaelic Warrior at Limerick over Christmas that really made a statement. Fact To File was full of running at the end of the race, whilst his rival was running on empty when unseating at the last.

Bigger and better things were on the horizon and he looked like he joined the race with a mile left to run when scoring impressively in the Brown Advisory at the Cheltenham Festival.

This horse has a high cruising speed, jumps immaculately and has a massive engine to boot. Gold Cup glory could be on the agenda come March and this very special talent gets the nod from us here.

14:50 Exeter - Livin On Luco @ 6/1

Phillip Hobbs & Johnson White have been in very good form in the last few days, with three winners from their last six runners. They run two in this competitive handicap chase and the less exposed LIVIN ON LUCO could be the one to side with.

Consistent in novice hurdles last term, he won a maiden at Chepstow in January, before three consecutive second-place finishes under a penalty. He’s a sizable sort who should progress nicely over fences and the best is yet to come.

Successful on chase and seasonal debut at Newton Abbot in October, he showed a good attitude to score by three-quarters-of-a-length and a 3lb rise should be more than manageable.

Horse Racing Odds

Horse Racing Tips, from Betfred Insights.