Sunday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Punchestown and Exeter
- Planet Sport writer
- 19 November 2022
The ITV cameras pop over to Ireland for Sunday's meeting at Punchestown on November 20, and they are also at Exeter, so the Planet Sport tipsters have a selection for each of the seven live races.
First up a quick list of our hot tips for Sunday's action, with the feature race the Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle at 1405. You can find more detail on our highlighted selections further down the page.
Don't forget to check out the racecards, results and live odds in
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Selections:
13:30 (Punchestown) Minella Crooner
14:05 (Punchestown) State Man
14:25 (Exeter) Bowtogreatness
14:40 (Punchestown) Seabank Bistro
15:00 (Exeter) How's The Cricket
15:15 (Punchestown) Captain Conby
15:35 (Exeter) Forever Blessed
13:30 (Punchestown) Minella Crooner
Minella Crooner has always been held in high regard by connections and the point-to-point winner is an exciting recruit to fences.
He beat all bar Minella Cocooner in the 2m6f Grade 1 novice hurdle at Leopardstown last season and ran too bad to be true on his only subsequent start here at the Festival meeting.
Thedevilscoachman is the pick of these over hurdles having won the Grade 2 Boyne Hurdle at Navan last term. He reverted back to fences to score at Galway last month but hasn't totally convinced yet with his jumping over the bigger obstacles.
Noel Meade also saddles Idas Boy who made a winning start over fences at Cork last month and went close subsequently at the same venue in a Grade 3 behind El Barra with Panda Boy well behind in fourth.
14:05 (Punchestown) State Man
Willie Mullins holds all the aces in the Unibet Morgiana Hurdle, with the hugely exciting State Man the pick of his three runners.
The French recruit's Irish career did not get off to the best of starts when unseating Paul Townend at Leopardstown on Boxing Day, but he swiftly put that behind him.
A routine win in a weak race at Limerick in February got the show back on the road, after which he landed a monster gamble in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.
State Man successfully graduated to Grade One class with a dominant display at Punchestown on his final start as a novice and he can establish himself as a major contender for the Champion Hurdle with a comeback victory in a race his trainer has farmed down the years.
14:25 (Exeter) Bowtogreatness
Bowtogreatness should go well in the Devonshire Novices' Limited Handicap Chase.
Twice a winner over hurdles before seemingly having his limitations exposed in Grade One company at Aintree, Ben Pauling's runner promises to make up into an even better horse over fences.
He has missed a couple of engagements recently on account of unsuitable ground, but conditions do look to be too demanding in Devon and an opening perch of 130 for his handicap debut looks workable.
14:40 (Punchestown) Seabank Bistro
Seabank Bistro looked a useful sort when scoring on debut at Naas and confirmed that impression when fourth to stablemate Facile Vega in the Cheltenham Festival bumper.
He was probably gone over the top when disappointing here subsequently but remains an exciting prospect for hurdles this season.
Point-to-point winner Monbeg Park stayed well when landing a bumper in Cork at Easter and again showed stamina is his strong suit when runner-up to Affordale Fury on his hurdle debut over 2m6f at Galway last month.
Riding arrangements suggest Will Do, who stayed on well on his only point start last spring, is the pick of Gordon Elliott's three runners while Silver King and Top Speed are others to consider.
15:00 (Exeter) How's The Cricket
How's The Cricket was subsequently disqualified after making a winning start for Harry Fry's yard over hurdles in March.
The gelding returned with an accomplished round of jumping to route the opposition on his chasing debut at Ffos Las in October and a similar effort will make him hard to beat here.
The Newest One also rates as a player at this level, while Faustinovick is respected despite being 6lb higher in the handicap after winning at Chepstow 18 days ago.
15:15 (Punchestown) Captain Conby
Captain Conby won twice here over 2m4f last season and was thought good enough to go for a Grade 1 novice at Aintree when a faller two out behind Three Stripe Life.
The Dusty Sheehy-trained gelding made a pleasing reappearance when second to Eric Bloodaxe at Fairyhouse and appears reasonably treated on his first handicap start with this step up in trip likely to suit.
Coventry has been placed on both starts over similar trips since joining Gordon Elliott and should be nearing peak fitness, while others for the shortlist include the Cian Collins-trained pair Robinstown and Sassy Yet Classy.
The latter won this race last year for Elliott. It will be interesting to see if there is any market support for Thyestes Chase winner Longhouse Poet on his reappearance.
15:35 (Exeter) Forever Blessed
The Jonjo O'Neill-trained Holly gave a good account behind two useful rivals when third at Chepstow last time out and she demands the utmost respect off 1lb lower.
That said, it may pay dividends to opt for Forever Blessed, who has not been seen since pulling up in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle last December.
Despite failing to fire on that occasion, the four-year-old may be underestimated by a mark of 123 and he gets the nod. Oscars Moonshine is another to consider in a competitive event.
