Horse Racing Tips: Slade Steel can get off the mark over fences

We've got one meeting to enjoy from Ireland and three across Britain on New Year's Eve, with action from Lingfield, Warwick, Punchestown and Uttoxeter.

Among our fancies is a Henry de Bromhead runner with some excellent form to his name who could be set to win over fences for the first time at Punchestown. Read on for our horse racing tips for Wednesday, December 31.

12:35 Punchestown - Slade Steel @ 8/11

It’s a surprise that Slade Steel remains a maiden over fences as he possesses a significant amount of ability. His finest hour came in the 2024 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, where he stayed on to win and the horse who finished second went on to claim two Grade 1s.

Things haven’t quite gone to plan over fences but he hasn’t done anything majorly wrong and still runs a good race.

Slade Steel is a little unlucky to have not won over fences yet but he went close when second on seasonal debut at Navan earlier this month.

Far from disgraced when runner-up at Naas on his penultimate start, it’s very difficult to knock that form, as Lecky Watson was the winner and he went on to win at Cheltenham.

This Punchestown race is probably his easiest opportunity over fences to date and he can take full advantage.

Henry de Bromhead’s form is improving too as he’s had several winners over the last few days, which certainly bodes well.

14:00 Lingfield - Tyrrhenian Sea @ 5/6

Tyrrhenian Sea struggles on turf but almost always runs his race on the all-weather.

An official rating of 108 means he’s the one they all have to beat at Lingfield and he’s entitled to step forward from his latest run at Kempton, which was his first for 177 days.

Roger Varian’s gelding won this race two years ago and ran very well last year, finishing second to a 120-rated rival. There’s nothing of Royal Champion’s calibre this time around and he’s expected to go one better with that in mind.

Jack Mitchell gets on well with him and three of his five successes have come with him on board. He didn’t quite have the pace to challenge the speedier Holloway Boy at Kempton earlier this month but the return to 1m2f will help and the race is his for the taking.

14:05 Punchestown - Ballyadam @ 10/3

Ballyadam doesn’t win too regularly but he’s a very useful handicapper on his day. It’s noted that his most recent success came in this very race at Punchestown last year and the smart Saint Sam was back in second. The 2m3f trip should be fine and he’s entitled to go close.

Last seen finishing third in the Coral Cup, he ran an absolute cracker to finish third under a big weight. No one had a chance with the winner but it was yet another great run at Cheltenham from him.

Henry de Bromhead’s 10-year-old is the most solid candidate here, especially as we don’t know what to expect from El Fabiolo.

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