RACING:RACING AT Punchestown is dependent on the track passing an 8am inspection this morning. The track was raceable yesterday but the course authorities have called an inspection due to an adverse weather forecast.
“If the forecast is correct, I’ll be disappointed if we can’t race,” manager Richie Galway said yesterday.
Willie Mullins has been in white-hot form in recent weeks but the champion trainer’s chances of landing today’s most valuable event with Hampshire Express could be dashed by his brother Tom’s Bob Lingo.
Both horses line up for the €16,000 novice chase and will be clashing for the second time this season.
At Thurles at the start of November, Hampshire Express had over three lengths in hand of Bob Lingo but while the latter has been busy all winter, the former is having his first run back since then.
The other crucial factor will be that they are racing over three quarters of a mile further and the evidence of Bob Lingo’s 20-length defeat of Time Electric at Fairyhouse is that the extra distance should be ideal for him.
There will be plenty interest in the second Irish start of So Young in the novice hurdle since the first appearance yielded a hugely impressive 16-length success at Leopardstown.
The star veteran Garde Champetre warms up for a return to Cheltenham in the rescheduled cross-country chase and gets weight from the former Grade One winner One Cool Cookie while Tofino Bay can progress enough from a return appearance at Leopardstown to land the maiden hurdle.
