Punchestown Festival: Wednesday’s tips

David Metcalf | Updated April 27, 2016

Steamboat Bill handicapped to strike

Steamboat Bill can take advantage of what looks a lenient mark to land the 2m 4f Martinstown Opportunity Series Final Handicap Hurdle, which opens proceedings on day two of the Punchestown Festival (15:40).

The Gordon Elliott trained gelding has imrpoved with each outing in four starts over hurdles, and looked one to keep onside when opening his account over the obstacles at Down Royal when last seen in action.

After being held-up in mid division, Steamboat Bill made good headway two from home before staying on strongly to beat Stowaway Shark by 1/2 a length.

Stowaway Shark has won since and finished runner-up to the well-regarded Coney Island to be rated 121, and the pair pulled 31 lengths clear of the field.

The third home Billy Billy also went on to score next time up by 27 lengths and is now rated 124, and that suggests the assessor has taken a real chance in allotting Steamboat Bill and opening handicap mark of just 119.

Five-year-old Steamboat Bill also looks the type who should have plenty more to offer, and hails from a shrewd yard which love to plunder the big handicaps.

Moon Racer can make class tell in Champion bumper

In the Grade 1 Attheraces.com Champion I.n.h. Flat Race (18:05), Moon Racer can make his class tell to make a winning return to action.