3 minute read

The team return with a selection from Punchestown’s Premiere Weekend meeting…

Course and distance winner Coko Beach could prove difficult to beat in the 3m Colm Quinn BMW Risk of Thunder Chase (11:35), returning to his optimum trip.

The nine-year-old was running a stellar race before unseating four out in the world-famous Last time out in the Velka Pardubicka Chase at Pardubice (Czech Republic) on seasonal reappearance. That run may give him the fitness edge on market rivals in this contest.

Punchestown represents an easier jumping test and he has proven form over the trip having won two from seven starts over three miles. Those victories came in more testing company than this, including a Troytown Handicap Chase success under top-weight. The grey is also something of a course specialist, winning three from six outings at the County Kildare track.

In a field lacking any significant depth, it could pay to side with the yard in form - Gordon Elliott's 22% strike rate in the last fortnight makes plenty of appeal. In combination with jockey Jack Kennedy's 25% win rate in the same period, Coko Beach could prove hard to stop.

WIN – COKO BEACH – 5/4