Jane Mangan’s William Hill blog: Punchestown Preview

William Hill ambassador Jane Mangan previews Tuesday’s William Hill-sponsored card at Punchestown.

Tuesday, Punchestown

Kicking off with the first race, the two-year-old fillies maiden (1.55pm), we see Amangani reopposing Mint Candy after they met at Gowran Park two weeks ago. There was a length and a half between them that day, but I actually expect Amangani to turn the form around for Joseph O’Brien. I feel like she ran a bit green and lacked some racing room, so with a clearer passage, I think she can improve past the Ballydoyle filly in the opener.

The 2.25pm looks a cracking race and it seems a matchup between Aidan O’Brien and Ger Lyons. Genealogy, for Ballydoyle, was second to a stable companion at the Curragh two weeks ago, but I think Storm Piece could be even better, having been beaten by Officer at that track two weeks ago. He’s a very exciting prospect for a trainer with some very nice two-year-olds this season, and with this guy holding a Beresford entry, I think he’ll be the one for me.

In the 2.55pm, I’m interesting to see Avatar Jet back over a mile after he didn’t quite stay the 10 furlongs at Down Royal last time. He won at Killarney in July off a mark of 66 and I think he’s definitely capable of doing the same off a mark of 69, especially over the ideal track and trip, with a nice draw too.

It looks like Ado McGuinness has found the perfect pitch for Star Harbour in the 3.25pm. He has been in good form of recent times and looks set to be very well-treated here, despite giving away weight to all of his rivals. But with Adam Caffrey taking three pounds off his regular companion, I think he’s going to be very hard to beat.

Vadali won’t get many better chances to break his duck the 3.55pm today. He’s been second on his past two starts at Galway and Limerick, but this time he’s got nine furlongs, a decent draw and I think he’s a horse who deserves to get off the mark having put in some very solid efforts in defeat. His official rating of 78 also suggest he should be going very close here, so all things suggest he should go close.

I’m going to side with the Billy Lee and Willie McCreery combination of Counterculture in the 4.30pm. She won her maiden at Roscommon on heavy ground, but I think she’s going to be better on a sounder surface. She was second at the Curragh in a maiden over seven furlongs two runs back and I think this track and trip won’t be an issue for her, and neither will her draw, and I can see her improving to win this.