Sunday Racing Tips: Heads Up can get back on track at Punchestown

Punchestown is a Sunday standout and their card features the Listed Grand National trial.

Among our fancies is a John McConnell runner who placed at the Cheltenham Festival in March and is well set for a return to winning ways at today. 

Horse Racing Odds

14:00 Punchestown - Kiss Will @ 11/10

Willie Mullins saddles three of the seven runners in this competitive-looking beginners’ chase and Paul Townend has opted to ride the six-year-old KISS WILL. The well bred gelding has a significant amount of stamina in his pedigree and is unexposed over this sort of trip.

Impressive when winning a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last January, he made all the running and pulled clear in the closing stages to score by 13 lengths. Things didn’t quite go to plan at Cheltenham and he got outpaced at a key stage.

Returning to winning ways in a Listed contest over three miles at Perth next time, that was a much better effort and there should be more to come over fences.

14:30 Punchestown - The Lovely Man @ 4/1

The Listed Grand National trial isn’t to be missed and there are several interesting candidates. Top of the list is the Gavin Cromwell-trained THE LOVELY MAN. He is going the right way since joining this yard and is bidding to complete a hat-trick here.

Third on stable debut at Naas in November, he ran well for a long way before getting a little bit tired in the closing stages. The seven-year-old took a step forward over three miles at Navan next time and ran on well to score by a comfortable margin of five lengths.

Cromwell’s gelding ran over hurdles at Gowran last time, taking advantage of a lower hurdles mark and the result was the same. Marathon trips could suit him and a bold bid is anticipated from this progressive sort.

15:00 Punchestown - Heads Up @ 7/4

John McConnell’s HEADS UP was a talented performer in bumpers last term and made a big impression when winning a race here by 24 lengths back in November 2024. He never saw another rival that day, having made all the running, and was even eased down late on.

It’s therefore no surprise that he ran an absolute stormer in the Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival in March. Bambino Fever’s finishing kick was stronger, but he stuck to his task well and comfortably held off the third.

The son of Blue Bresil made the perfect start to his career over hurdles when winning over this trip at Listowel in September and was a solid second behind No Drama This End at Cheltenham in November. You can put a line through his latest run and perhaps the drop back to two miles and lower grade can facilitate a return to winning ways.

Horse Racing Tips from Betfred Insights.