Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Secret can prove he’s got the bottle

William Hill ambassador Barry Geraghty previews the final day of the Punchestown Festival, picking out his best bets.

Punchestown, Saturday

It’s really hard to see past LOSSIEMOUTH in the Mares’ Champion Hurdle (3:42pm). She’s probably the biggest threat to Constitution Hill for next season. I think she would have won the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham this season and I think the Champion Hurdle at Punchestown. She’s a high-class mare and this two-and-a-half mile trip is no problem for her. It’s very hard to make a case for anything to get the better of her. Telmesomethinggirl put in a good performance to finish second in the Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival, but I think Ashroe Diamond has some really good form in the book. She was third in the Hatton’s Grace behind Teahupoo and Impaire Et Passe. I feel she was ridden too prominently and was keen when pulling up at Cheltenham last time out, behind Lossiemouth and Telmesomethinggirl, but I think the better ground and return to more patient tactics could see her chase home the favourite.

CRUZ CONTROL was a good winner the last day in Aintree and before that in Newcastle. He looks a progressive horse and should be capable of going well once again in the Listed Handicap Chase (4:15pm). Digby might be one to look at each-way. He was well beaten behind Minella Cocooner in Navan back in January, but before that had finished a good second to Klassical Dream in Thurles. He’s only had a handful of chase starts and should enjoy being back on better ground here, so I could see him outrunning his odds.

The Champion 4YO Hurdle (4:50pm) is an interesting race. Kargese was second in the Triumph Hurdle and then again second behind Sir Gino at Aintree. She pulled very hard there and got tired on the run to the last. She brings the best form into this, but her Aintree run was only three weeks ago and I think it would take a mammoth performance to reach the level of form that she’d need to show to win this race on the back of that run. BOTTLER’SECRET was a good winner in Naas and then was impressive at Fairyhouse last time. His winning has been done mainly on soft ground and while he can race lazily, he was a winner over a mile and a quarter on the Flat, and he comes here fresh, which I think might make the difference.

The Listed Handicap Hurdle (5:25pm) is a good race and does throw up some good winners, with Anibale Fly and Seddon among the more recent winners. WATERFORD WHISPERS was unlucky at Cheltenham – he just ran a little bit keen through the race and was worn down late by Better Days Ahead. That rival franked the form when finishing third in the three-mile Grade 1 novice earlier this week, so I think Waterford Whispers is the one to beat. Olympic Man, one of Willie Mullins’, went down by the narrowest of margins in Fairyhouse over three miles last time and I think this drop back in trip will suit him. He’s a big, raw horse who I think should improve for the experience of his last run.