© Photo Healy Racing
The A-listers will be out in force this weekend with Galopin Des Champs, Fastorslow, State Man, Lossiemouth and Ballyburn in action at Punchestown, while six-time Group 1 winner Auguste Rodin will make his final appearance on the big stage in the Japan Cup on Sunday.
In the UK, Capodanno, Hewick and Limerick Lace head over in search of Grade 1 glory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday but where is the value on a sensational weekend of racing? Vincent Finegan and Betting Expert’s Stephen Harris have searched the handicaps for value bets.
Get up to €60 in free bets with BoyleSports to spend on the weekend’s excellent racing.
Ballycoose 13:35 Punchestown, Saturday Handicap Chase, 2m. 5f. 70yds.
There looks to still be some juice in a rating of 125 for Ballycoose with just four chase starts to his name. He has won off a break in the past and with his stable among the winners in recent weeks he must have a solid chance.
Whatsavailable (nap) 13:15 Punchestown, Sunday Handicap Hurdle, 3m. 24yds.
Whatsavailable has always promised more than he has delivered. This is in part due to the fact that he tends to be hard on himself and gets worked up before his races. The application of a hood in the preliminaries has helped and first time blinkers saw a dramatic improvement last time. All three of his previous wins have come at Fairyhouse, but there is no reason why he shouldn't be equally effective on this right-handed track with the blinkers retained.
Beat The Bat (VALUE ANGLE) 1.15 Haydock, Saturday Handicap Hurdle 2m3f
Harry Fry’s unexposed hurdler looks a young handicapper to follow this winter, and starts off from a fair opening mark under Bryan Carver (with the recent rain easing conditions very much in his favour). He remains open to plenty more improvement after just three career starts is far over hurdles, and fitness is unlikely to be an issue after 344 days off the track.
Monbeg Genius 3.40 Haydock, Saturday Handicap Chase 3m1f
Jonjo O’Neill's quirky chaser has won 3 of his 9 starts so far in this sphere, and could be worth chancing first time out after 256 days off the track (with his mark eased a few pounds after failing to fire last winter at a time when the yard was struggling for form in the main).
