Punchestown Racecourse: preview and tips for Sunday’s seven-race jumps card

The National Hunt season continues in Ireland at a pace on Sunday with a seven-race Jumps card at Punchestown which includes the Listed Grand National Handicap Chase.

The card kicks off at 2.10pm with a novice chase over two miles before the meeting comes to a close three hours later at 5.10pm as 14 runners take on the one mile and seven furlong bumper.

Read below to discover the latest tips and a full preview of the Punchestown card on Sunday courtesy of Punters Lounge, who offset the most up-to-date Cheltenham Festival racecards ahead of the March showpiece meeting.

A two-mile novice chase marks the opening contest on the Sunday card (2.10) as seven runners head to the start for the Rated Novice Chase. Release The Beast confirmed chase debut promise when opening his account in a seven-runner maiden at Limerick 52 days ago and he's fancied to make another bold bid in this stronger affair for trainer Paul Nolan, with further progress in the offing. Springt de La Mare is another open to improvement and feared on the back of his chase debut success at Fairyhouse when last seen.

Eight runners will take on race two on the card, a two-mile and six furlong beginners chase at 2.40. Smart hurdler High Class Hero made an encouraging debut in this sphere after eight months off when second in a similar event here on New Year's Eve for the high-powered Willie Mullins yard and is preferred to his stablemate Loughglynn, a good fifth at Navan 29 days ago on his last spin.

The feature race of the afternoon at Punchestown is up next at 3.10 as a big field of 16 head to post for the marathon three-mile and three furlong Grand National Handicap Chase for horses aged five and older with a very handy €60,000 top prize on offer. Velvet Elvis, trained by Gordon Elliott, was reinvigorated by the return to chasing and the addition of cheekpieces when running the race of his life to finish second in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last month and can go one better back down in grade. Kings Halo and stablemate Favori de Champdou, third in the Thyestes, head the dangers.

Another Listed contest marks race four of the afternoon (3.40) with the novice hurdle over one mile and seven furlongs, won last year by trainer Mullins with Tullyhill. Stablemate C’Est Ca Chance got off to a successful start at Clonmel and is fancied to quickly resume winning ways on the back of an excellent Navan second last time out. William Munny also has better days ahead of him so should ensure the selection doesn't have things all his own way.

Bumper winner Dr Eggman became expensive to follow over hurdles last season but this looks an excellent opportunity for Willie Mullins' seven-year-old, and he's fancied to come out on top after nine months off in race five of the Punchestown card (4.10) as 23 head to post for the two-mile and three furlong maiden hurdle.

The penultimate race of Sunday afternoon arrives at 4.40 and 12 runners will tackle the two-mile and six furlong novice handicap hurdle. The Philip Rothwell-trained Duffys Hodey is in the form of his life, and he may find enough improvement over this longer trip to defy the handicapper once again. Misty Milan was well backed when a promising fifth on her reappearance and it would be no surprise to see her go close here to rate the chief threat.

Finally, Punchestown’s meeting comes to an end with the pro-am bumper (5.10). Willie Mullins has won the last three runnings of this race and can make it four in a row with Gameofinches, who was a fine winner of his sole point-to-point outing and looks a top prospect. Cosmos d'Ainay is another point winner who has joined a top yard with Gordon Elliott and is second choice ahead of Gavin Cromwell's Begorra Man.

Punchestown selections - Sunday 

2.10 - Release The Beast 

2.40 - High Class Hero 

3.10 - Velvet Elvis 

3.40 - C’Est Ca Chance 

4.10 - Dr Eggman 

4.40 - Duffys Hodey 

5.10 - Gameofinches