Lucky 15 Tips: Novice can lay down Gold Cup marker at Punchestown

Tuesday April 29 is Day One of the Punchestown Festival in Ireland, and I'm delighted to be heading in that direction for our Lucky 15 tips.

What a week then, in prospect - culminating in the Betfred Guineas weekend at Newmarket - so without further ado let's turn our attention to County Kildare, and after all the Trainers Championship excitement of recent weeks, doubtless another opportunity to witness up close and personal the abiding genius that is William Peter Mullins. An absolute force of nature.

Horse Racing Odds

Today's Horse Races

15:05 - Bright Legend @ 12/1

Harry Cobden's star is shining very brightly right now after successful liaisons with WP Mullins of late and he's been snapped up by another Irish handler for this near-60k euros-to-the-winner handicap hurdle final.

Bright Legend is in the hands of Denis Hogan at Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary - about 75 miles south-west of the track, which is just outside Naas. The five-year-old Zoustar gelding has been knocking on the door in some richly-endowed handicaps of late and I've a feeling it's going to open sooner rather than later.

No hurdle wins from 11 starts but in mid-February at Haydock he perhaps failed to stay the 3m+ trip when holding every chance (off a mark of 127) and is better judged on his effort before that here, at this near-2m 4f trip, going down by just over 3l, running on.

Last time out 40 days ago in a Cork maiden he again ran on nicely, at around this trip, doing his best work at the finish and it looked an ideal prep for this, which he tackles off a mark of 120. Sprinkle in the Cobden factor up top and there's an awful lot to like about his chances.

15:40 - Serienmond @ 11/2

The mighty Gavin Cromwell yard now, and a five-year-old Sea The Moon gelding looking to take down a Listed handicap hurdle over just in excess of 2m.

Serienmond only joined Gavin in February and has had two spins for his new yard; a cosy Leopardstown win off 107 and a fine running-on third at Fairyhouse a week ago, under a 10lb penalty.

The assessor has seen fit to raise him another 4lb today but on recent evidence this is a rapidly-improving sort who though 3lb out of the handicap, carrying just 10st, has a terrific opportunity in my book.

Claimer Conor Stone-Walsh (on board last time) reduces that burden by 3lb, and bar recent heroics the horse wouldn't have even got into the race.

16:50 - Lecky Watson @ 9/4

One of five WP Mullins entries, and an up-and-coming force in the novice chasing ranks.

Lecky Watson won here readily despite a few jumping errors in a January Grade 3 but it was last time, at Cheltenham in the Brown Advisory, where he really announced himself.

Under today's pilot Sean O'Keefe, at odds of 20/1, he did the business by an authoritative 4l and more with the likes of the re-opposing Ballyburn in his wake.

The seven-year-old gelding is on a steep upward curve and for me is the one they've all got to beat. He was a decent hurdler, admittedly below the best, but has already taken much higher rank over the larger obstacles.

He's only 25/1 for next year's Cheltenham Gold Cup and that might be being nibbled at come Tuesday afternoon at around 5pm.

18:35 - Bud Fox @ 9/2

I'm worshipping at the Gavin Cromwell altar once again with a bumper horse in his care, Bud Fox, who will have the inestimable assistance from the saddle of one Derek O'Connor, surely up there with the very best amateur jockeys Ireland has ever produced.

This is a four-year-old Walk In The Park gelding who won his point under Derek, in February, 'cosily,' in the words of the Racing Post race-reader. This is a warm-looking contest but it's worth noting that Willie doesn't run anything, and Grand National-winning son Patrick is on one for Gordon Elliott.

There will be plenty in it with glorious untapped potential but I wouldn't swap for any of them.

Decent prices in the main for our selections, and I'm going to play them in an each-way L15, increasing our prospects of a return.

This is an example of a Lucky 15. If you can improve upon my selections (of course you can), then go for it!

The odds can fluctuate between publishing our pieces and race-time. As a guide, a £0.25p each-way Lucky 15 on today's selections, at the prices, and assuming all four won, would return around £835 for your total £7.50 stake.

Fred, 'The Bonus King,' invented the 'Lucky' series of bets and their bonuses. My colleague Adam has set out all you need to know with this handy guide - take a look by clicking here.

Horse Racing & Greyhound bets only. Excludes Virtual Racing. 5x odds on Lucky 63. 4x Odds Lucky 31. 3x Odds Lucky 15. All selections must run. Paid in cash if only 1 winner. T&Cs Apply.

Lucky 15 tips from Betfred Insights.