Punchestown 2014 - Champion Bumper

6.05 Punchestown

Attheraces.com Champion I.N.H. Flat Race (Grade 1) (Class 1)  (4YO to 7YO)

Winner €58,500

Advice: 1 pt win Silver Concorde (15/8 Paddy Power), 2 pts Shaneshill to beat Black Herculues (5/6 Bet Victor)

Black Hercules: Landed his only point before scoring in bumper here but really impressive at Gowran; Went a strong gallop and had most in trouble at the Festival, but passed fair and square for fourth by Shaneshill and Silver Concorde; Hard to see him reversing that form but can go well again.

Fine Article: Travelled like a horse sure to win when second on Fairyhouse debut and duly followed through in winning at Gowran with more ease than distance suggested; This a steep rise in class but worthy of his shot and interesting.

Jollyallan: Well backed and won like a horse worthy of a crack in race like this when bolting up from the front and ending up 15 lengths clear; Likely that he could do better but competition upfront a potential concern for him today.

Killutagh Vic: Winner got first run on him in the Champion Bumper and didn’t get the clearest of passages, but didn’t look to have been cost a winning chance and will want a soft lead today to be reversing form with Black Hercules, Shaneshill or Silver Concorde.

Patsio: Stand improvement saw him land small Limerick bumper last time but huge step up in class here and quickest ground he’s faced by some margin.

Riviera Sun: Made late headway into fourth despite hanging behind Shaneshill at Naas and then took Down Royal maiden in good style; No reason for form to be reversed from first time out however.

Seven Nation Army: Wide margin winner on UK debut and then showed gritty attitude to land Ascot listed contest, but disappointment at Newbury latest; Presumably wrong on that occasion and should be allowed a chance to gain the winning thread again today although this much faster ground potentially a bigger problem.

Shaneshill: Only third on only point debut but built on Naas debut win with striking show of power at Fairyhouse; Sent off favourite for the Champion Bumper and moved like the best horse for much of the way before being outsped by Silver Concorde in the run to the line; Not that much to find on the form book but was convincingly beaten and must improve to get closer.

Silver Concorde: Well beaten on first pair of bumper starts but an impressive winner at Leopardstown in December giving plenty of weight to runner up and built on that promise in greatest fashion possible when finding the best turn of foot to land Cheltenham Bumper, beating Shaneshill and Black Hercules in good style; Fine chance of repeating the feat again.

Some Buckle: Couldn’t justify favouritism on debut at Doncaster debut but not without his promise there; Should find a race but today not likely to be that one.

Value at Risk: Had smart form in the book and looked an extremely smart prospect when giving over a stone and good beating to four rivals at Leopardstown; Didn’t show quite the same form at Cheltenham but no surprise if he does better today although yet another front runner.

Aminabad: Bounced back from disappointed at Leopardstown to reverse form with winner there and land Listed bumper but that form a way behind what he needs to be competitive here and quickest ground faced today.

Anikam: By the high class Nickname and plenty of ability as he showed in ordinary Hexham contest, running away from poor field but doing it on the bit  and streaking away; Interesting taking deserved shot at this company.

VERDICT: With Black Herclues, Jollyalan, Killtuagh Vic, Aminabad, and Value At Risk in attendance there’ll be no hanging around, which is likely to suit Anikam and Fine Article especially of the longshots here, but if in the same form that he showed at Cheltenham, SILVER CONCORDE will take the beating. He was a convincing winner over many of these, Shaneshill included, and he can confirm the form with his chief rival from last time taken to beat Black Hercules again. Fine Article is worth looking closely at.