Horse racing tips: Uttoxeter and Punchestown – Tuesday December 10

Three of Tuesday’s four race meetings in England and Ireland are National Hunt fixtures.

First off is Punchestown (11.50am-3.20pm), followed by Uttoxeter (12.12-3.12), Fontwell (1.00-3.30) and the all-weather Flat card at Southwell (4.30-8.30).

Among our Monday fancies is a Richard Bandey who showed some excellent form over fences and is in danger of being overlooked in a warm chase at Uttoxeter. 

Horse racing tips today –  Uttoxeter and Punchestown

Liam Bramall’s picks for Tuesday are below. Scroll down to read the expert analysis behind them. 

• Nap: Theatre Man (Uttoxeter, 1.42) @ SP with BetMGM
• Next best: Sound And Fury (Uttoxeter, 2.12) @ SP with BetMGM
• Other: Pastorale (Punchestown 1.20) @ SP with BetMGM

Odds, correct at time of publishing, may be subject to change.

Horse racing tips: Uttoxeter 1.42

It would be unwise to rule out any of the five runners in this 2m 4f novices’ handicap chase. Jagwar is looking to complete a hat-trick over fences, Nicky Henderson’s Jingko Blue is aiming to get back on track on his first start in this sphere, while Rambo T and Hashtag Boum are not without chances.

However, THEATRE MAN is the one for us, Richard Bandey’s eight-year-old showed some excellent form over fences last term, despite failing to land a first chasing win. But overlooking him may prove to be a mistake and he should be capable of winning races off this sort of mark.

Perhaps his best effort came at Cheltenham on Trials Day back in January, when he stuck to his task well to finish second behind subsequent Grade 1 runner-up Ginny’s Destiny over an extended 2m 4f. That is probably the best chase form on offer here.

Well fancied for the TrustATrader Plate at the Cheltenham Festival, he fell at the third, although the fact he went off as the 10/3 favourite suggests a big run was expected.

Returning to hurdles at Aintree didn’t suit him and he looked badly in need of the run when a tired fourth over three miles at Cheltenham in October. Better is expected here and this could be the day he deservedly gets off the mark over fences.

Selection: Theatre Man @ SP with BetMGM

Horse racing tips: Uttoxeter 2.12

Ben Pauling is fast becoming a trainer to watch and his novice chasers look particularly strong this season. SOUND AND FURY made his first start over fences at Carlisle in November and kept on nicely to finish third, despite not quite having the pace to trouble the winner.

He’s likely to be a tad sharper for that run, so while the handicapper has put him up 1lb he should be capable of progressing significantly beyond his current mark of 117.

The son of Milan was progressive as a novice hurdler last term, winning two of his five starts in that sphere, and he’s a distant relative of the very smart chaser Contraband.

This looks to be a pretty competitive three-mile handicap chase, but Sound And Fury has plenty of scope for further improvement.

Selection: Sound And Fury @ SP with BetMGM

Horse racing tips: Punchestown 1.20

Willie Mullins throws three darts at this race, including favourite Hey Sunshine, but we’re taking him on with the Henry de Bromhead-trained PASTORALE, who was a winner over fences in France for her previous connections and showed some fair form over hurdles last term.

She found only Brighterdaysahead too good when second in a Listed novice hurdle at Navan in February and there was certainly no shame in that defeat. 

Third behind a useful stablemate in another Listed contest at Thurles before that, she clearly has the ability to compete at this level and arguably brings the best form to the race.

It surely won’t be long until the five-year-old sheds her maiden tag and, provided she’s fit enough for this 2m 3f novices’ hurdle, victory could well be on the cards.

Selection: Pastorale @ SP with BetMGM