Racing tips: The bookies are heavily overlooking Thedevilscoachman back over hurdles

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It just wasn't going to happen for Saturday. Our Follet put in yet another lacklustre performance over fences, it was a risk that I thought was worth taking, but once again had egg on my face. Collectors Item was shocking and far too bad to be true as he was staying on like a steam train at Sandown, and he was beaten much earlier this time around almost as if he was feeling the effects of the previous race. Atalanta Brave was narrowly touched off in the Mandarin handicap chase, which was a tough watch knowing profit on the day would've been secured if he got his head in front, but lost by less than a length.

Punchestown 2:15 – Thedevilscoachman 3/1 (1pt)

I've taken the educated decision to avoid the races in the UK as the weather has been horrendous and if the racing goes ahead it's going to be a swamp. Punchestown is also racing on heavy ground, so it's going to be tough conditions there as well but I thought that Thedevilscoachman was being slightly overlooked in the 2m 3f hurdle race which has Sir Gerhard as the favourite.

At this trip, I don't think it will suit a fair few of them, and those that it does suit I don't think the majority of them are good enough to beat the two horses I've already mentioned. I felt that Thedevilscoachman is an underrated horse and I'm not so sure why he is 3/1 as his record over hurdles is four wins from six runs, and that has seen him win a Listed race as well as a Grade 2. His defeats have come over 2m, which he isn't best over as his career best was when he beat Ashdale Bob in the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle in 2022. Beating Ashdale Bob isn't amazing, but that horse has run valiant races to finish 2nd in a Leopardstown Grade 1 and he ran well at Punchestown in the Stayer's Hurdle to finish 5th, 3.75L behind the winner, Klassical Dream, so he is a good yardstick. I just felt that his form was much more solid than the form of the odds-on favourite who has struggled since his novice hurdling season which did see him win a Ballymore, which the form looks better now the horses who he beat have gone over fences, but this is over hurdles so I don't think that level of form works out as well as it looks paper.

We know that Thedevilscoachman stays further than today's trip, which is going to be a must as it is going to be a gruelling test over 2m 3f. He handles soft ground and he already had a run over fences this season, so even though this is back over hurdles, he should be match fit.

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