Gavin Cromwell’s William Hill blog: Sixandahalf one to follow at Punchestown

It’s always an exciting time of year when the Punchestown Festival rolls around. I don’t send a host of superstars to the track for the first two days of the meeting, but I’ve got a nice team who’ll hopefully run their races across Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tuesday, Punchestown

My first runner is Lazer Wolf (3.05pm) in the Full Circle Series Final. It’s a new race, a nice pot, and a great opportunity for these horses to run for some good prize money. He’s going into it off the back of a win, but to be honest the trip here is going to be right at the limit of his stamina. However, I would imagine the race will be run at a good pace and hopefully he can be coming home well at the finish.

Toto Too (4.15pm) might lack a bit of experience for this race, but he has a nice profile and comes here off the back of a win. It’ll be interesting to see how strong Willie’s [Mullins] hand is here, as a few of them were running over in the UK last week as he landed the trainers’ title. I do like my lad, though, and he has had plenty of time to get over winning last time out. I also have Only By Night in this race, but she’s a reserve and is unlikely to get a run.

In the Goffs Defender Bumper I run Lau And Shaz (4.50pm). She’s a nice mare who I expect to run a good race, but I’d say she’ll be up against it here as there are lots of unexposed types involved. Don’t forget about her though, she’s one for the future.

To finish on the Tuesday, I saddle Sixandahalf (6.35pm) in the four-year-old only bumper. She gets her mares’ allowance and ran a lovely race in Naas on debut. That form has worked out well, and I think she’s stepped forward from that run. With that experience of a run under her belt, I expect her to run a nice race. It does look a competitive heat, but hopefully she won’t be too far away.

Wednesday, Punchestown

Kicking off Wednesday we send Final Orders (2.30pm) back over hurdles. He’s got a hurdles mark 23 pounds lower than his chase mark. Now, he is definitely a better chaser than a hurdler, and his form will show that, but hopefully there’s scope for a win off this mark. Again, he’s one that’s in good form and I hope he won’t be too far away. The Other Mozzie also goes here and the trip should be ideal. He wasn’t beaten very far on his last run, and I think he could have an each-way chance. I also send Global Export here. He’s one who has been struggling to get his head in front, but this is a sound opportunity for him to show a bit better form.

Backtonormal (3.05pm) is a new recruit from Mags Mullins who came to me with some nice form. He might have a little bit to find on ratings with a couple in this race, but it’s a great pot and I hope he will be competitive. I also send Aeros Luck to this race, who ran behind Toto Too on his last start. I’d say that’s a formline to follow so don’t discount my two in this.

Lastly on Wednesday I saddle Antrim Coast (3.40pm). He carries top weight here and was disappointing at Cheltenham last time out. We’re not fully sure why he ran poorly on his previous start, it might just be that he didn’t travel well across to the UK. He’s had plenty of time to get over the exertions of that run, and we think he’s in good form at home, so we’re hoping he can run well.

I look forward to running some talented types later on in the week at Punchestown, so keep an eye out on the blog then for my thoughts on the team.