Monday Racing Tips: Velvet can produce a smooth performance

There’s a little something for everyone on offer on Monday, with three National Hunt fixtures and an evening all-weather card taking place across Britain and Ireland.

Punchestown is the first to kick off and the afternoon action continues at Plumpton and Hereford, while the evening entertainment comes from Wolverhampton. Amongst our Monday fancies is a Willie Mullins-trained runner who finished second to a stablemate last time out and looks well set to go one better this time around.

13:40 Punchestown - Bibe Mus @ 6/5

There aren’t too many four-year-old handicap hurdles around at this time of year and the Matchbook Betting Exchange Handicap Hurdle could be worth keeping an eye on, with Cheltenham now less than two months away.

BIBE MUS is owned by Isaac Souede and Simon Munir and he showed a good attitude to win at Gowran on his hurdling debut back in October. The Ross O’Sullivan-trained juvenile saw the trip out well and it was definitely a promising display.

He bumped into a very smart filly of Gordon Elliott’s next time and was far from disgraced back in third. A trip over to Britain was next on the agenda and he contested a Listed race at Aintree, where he finished second by five lengths.

His profile suggests the switch to handicaps looks wise and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him win a race or two of this stature.

14:10 Punchestown - Blue Velvet @ 5/6

January to May is Willie Mullins’ peak performance period and he appears to have several big chances on this card BLUE VELVET could well be the one to beat in this mares’ maiden and she should be getting off the mark sooner rather than later.

She began her career under rules in a Thurles bumper back in December 2024 and she managed to win that day, despite showing signs of greenness at a key stage. The daughter of Blue Bresil was strong at the finish and would have learnt plenty.

Struggling in a Grade 2 after that, she was a well beaten seventh behind Bambino Fever but it was a much better effort at Naas subsequently. She finished second to a stablemate over two miles on her first start over hurdles and can go one better over a longer trip here.

15:40 Punchestown - Kobalt St Georges @ 5/4

Another one for Robert Tyner, KOBALT ST GEORGES showed next to nothing in one bumper and eights start over hurdles but the six-year-old has really turned a corner this season and is thriving over the larger obstacles.

This son of Masked Marvel started his campaign with a two-length success at Clonmel in October. He jumped particularly well on the whole, apart from a couple of sloppy leaps at the fifth and the last, and kicked clear of long term leader Toor Moon on the run-in.

A 6lb rise made little difference at the same track next time and he managed to follow up by a similar margin. The handicapper has now whacked him with a 10lb rise and although that’s substantial, he could be worth keeping on side for the time being.

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