Horse Racing Tips: Predators can strike Gold at Punchestown

Britain’s racing fixtures have fallen foul of the weather in the last week or so, but the situation in Ireland is a bit more positive, and they race at Punchestown on Sunday. The feature race on the seven-race card is the Grade 2 Moscow Flyer Novice Hurdle, while there’s also an intriguing Grade 3 novice chase to look forward to.

We have had a close look at all seven races and picked out three of our strongest fancies to follow, which includes one in the novice chase for Willie Mullins, who was a very comfortable winner last time out. Check out my Horse Racing Tips for Sunday, January 11.

12:20 Punchestown - Additional Time @ 5/2

John McConnell is winless in the last fortnight, but the lightly raced ADDITIONAL TIME could be set to change that. He was an impressive winner of a point-to-point back in February 2024, but struggled badly in a Limerick bumper on his first start under rules.

A much improved horse this season, he lost a Thurles maiden in the stewards’ room first time out and left that run behind him when winning easily over an extended 3m1f at Sligo most recently. Connections aren’t wasting much time over hurdles, and there could be more to come over fences.

As an ex-pointer, jumping fences under rules should be no problem, and this is a very winnable beginners’ chase.

It’s hard to make a compelling case for too many of his rivals, and he’s well set to make a winning start to his chasing career.

12:50 Punchestown - Predators Gold @ 13/8

Willie Mullins won this race last year with subsequent Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase winner Lecky Watson, and although PREDATORS GOLD may not quite be up to that standard, the seven-year-old looks fully capable of winning this.

He was a smart novice hurdler two seasons ago and managed to finish second or third in three Grade 1 races. He was then absent for well over a year, but he successfully defied a 582-day absence to win on his first start over fences at Navan last month.

The seven-year-old produced a fine performance with that in mind, and runner-up Slade Steel is no mug either. You would imagine he will step forward significantly for that, and he could prove very hard to beat if doing so.

14:20 Punchestown - Sober @ 5/4

It’s very difficult to oppose Willie Mullins at this time of year, and he trains two of the four runners in this contest. Paul Townend rides the smart Flat performer SOBER, and he brings some excellent form to the table.

Sober won two Group 2s on the Flat in France and joined this yard after leaving Andre Fabre in the spring.

Winning over hurdles at the first time of asking, he won a Killarney novice hurdle by a length-and-a-quarter on stable debut.

The seven-year-old was then sent over to Royal Ascot for the Queen Alexandra Stakes, and he bolted up by five lengths with Ryan Moore on board.

The only concern would be that the trip is potentially short enough, but he’s definitely the most talented horse in the field.

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