Racing tips: Brazil can show his class in the Killashee Hotel Handicap Hurdle

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I thought Monday was going to continue the bad form but it wasn't the case as the two last selections pulled it out of the fire and made it a decent day.

Triple Trade was well supported and won as easy as he liked at odds of 13/8, after being tipped up at 5/1. Talap had to dig deeper and won in the final yards, he did drift out to 5/1 which is a shame as no BOG the night before means we've got to settle for the price tipped up, but it wasn't a massive drift.

Punchestown 4:50 – Brazil 11/2 (1pt ew PaddyPower 6pl)

This is obviously going to be a tough race to win, especially when Brazil has to carry 11st 9lbs in a race in which most of those towards the top of the weights have 7lb claimers, but I think he is the class horse in the race and this race has been in the plan of Padraig Roche for some time and he can run a big race.

We all know how good this horse is. He won the Juvenile Handicap race at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 when beating Gaelic Warrior, which has turned into some good form. This year he has had a quiet campaign, running in some low-fielded races, but he hasn't done badly at all and has been disgraced in his losses. He was behind Champ Kiely on seasonal reappearance, that horse has since won a Grade 1. He beat Fil Dor with ease the time after in a Grade 3, and was beaten in a match race by No Looking Back, who looks like a decent prospect for the future in a Grade 2 race, beaten on ground which is far too soft for him anyway. He has had a recent run on the flat to blow away the cobwebs after having a 97-day break from racing, and that will have put him spot-on for this race today.

Mark Walsh has picked him out as the best chance of the JP McManus runners, and this horse should get the better ground he thrives on. I'm expecting a big run.

Punchestown 6:35 – Classic Getaway 7/2 (1pt)

This is a Grade 1 but it doesn't seem like a Grade 1 as it's full of horses who have a lot to answer, especially as chasers. The one I thought could be head and shoulders better than these at this trip is Classic Getaway, it just depends on his well-being as he's not seen on the track as much as you'd like.

As chasing debuts go, Classic Getaway's went as well as it could've possibly gone. He jumped great, hit fitness was great after a big layoff and the form of the race has started to work out nicely. He was ahead of Journey With Me before he fell, and he was always going to beat him even if the other horse stayed on his feet. JWM has since won some decent races and run against some good horses, so the fact he was firmly put in his place, suggests to me that he'll struggle to reverse the form, especially if the ground dries out as I firmly believe JWM needs bottomless ground to be seen to best effect. In that race, Angels Dawn was back in fourth, 32L behind the winner, he has since improved from a 118-rated handicapper to a 138-rated Cheltenham Festival-winning chaser. Minella Cocooner was second to Classic Getaway, and though he hasn't been seen since, he was a Grade 1 winning hurdler and was runner-up in a Grade 1s at the Cheltenham & Punchestown Festivals, so is no mug.

This horse hasn't been on the track since his chase debut in November, which is an obvious concern, but he has won off a layoff before, so clearly goes well fresh and I can't imagine he'd be turning up to this race not full tuned up. Danny Mullins takes the ride, which doesn't bother me as Paul has opted for another horse, as I think he's crazy going for Appreciate It based on him trying a new trip and his new tendency to go left at every fence.

I think Feronily is the main danger, an old selection of mine, he stays the trip and I think he is being overlooked in what is a fairly weak Grade 1.

Ffos Las 3:25 – Prince Des Fichaux 4/1 (1pt)

I thought that Prince Des Fichaux made an encouraging chase debut last time out when finishing third behind Robyndzone was well handicapped on older pieces of form and was behind Duc De Beauchene, who was also decently handicapped and has won a race since.

This horse was fancied to run a big race on chase debut, going off as 15/8F and I think they would've been pleased with the progress he made on his first start over fences. He made a couple of mistakes, which is normal for a horse with not much experience, but it gave them something to build on. With Sam Twiston-Davies taking backing over in the saddle I think he is great value against Robyndzone, who he faced again, but this time off much better weights

Epsom 3:00 – Lord Protector 9/2 (1pt)

With the recent rain coming at the back end of Monday, Epsom should be fairly testing conditions come the time of racing on Tuesday and that makes me like the chances of Lord Protector.

I firmly believe this 5yo son of Pastorious is still on a workable handicap mark of 97. He won off 92 last June when beating Jewel In My Crown, who was rated 83 at the time and that filly has since gone on to win a few races and improve her handicap mark to 95, and Lord Protector beat her by a length and was giving her 9lbs. He then ran a big race in a 39k handicap at Goodwood, where he finished fifth of 18 and didn't get the best of runs that day. He was held up from off the pace, had to go wide around the final bend and didn't get a clear run-through, but when he did he powered home and was an unlucky horse not to finish better than fifth. I think you can ignore his last run of last year, as that was far too bad to be true.

He has won on soft ground before, and the pedigree suggests soft ground should be fine for him. His trainer is in good form having two races on the weekend and one on Monday, so I'm expecting a good run on seasonal reappearance.

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