Solomn Grundy To Shine In BoyleSports National Trial

The BoyleSports National Trial at Punchestown is the feature race of the weekend.

A €100,000 prize is up for grabs for the three and a half mile handicap chase and BoyleSports have added the extra bonus of a free entry into the BoyleSports Irish Grand National for the winning connections.

Henry to foil the Gigginstown raid

Michael O’Leary’s Gigginstown House Stud have been a big part of Henry de Bromhead enjoying his best ever season numerically but the Waterford trainer could well get the better of the champion owner in Punchestown’s big race.

Solomn Grundy is a horse that has just had two starts for de Bromhead and he has picked up a decent cheque in both of them.
On his first start since joining Neil Mulholland the nine-year-old finished second in the Foxrock Handicap and then at Christmas he was fourth to Auvergnat at Leopardstown.

From two and a half miles at Navan to three miles at Leopardstown de Bromhead now attempts three and a half miles today.

The inclusion of Don Poli in the race has certainly kept the weights down and just three runners carry more than 11st. Even last season’s BoyleSports Irish Grand National hero General Principle has just 10st9lbs on his back.

Solomn Grundy, who will be ridden by Tom Scudamore, gets in with just 10st3lbs and stepping up to this sort of trip could be ideal for him and he may just be slightly lesser exposed than the likes of those up near the top of the weights or the likes of General Principle and Isleofhopendreams.

Some Neck is an interesting one as he has failed to complete a couple of times in big handicaps but probably looked to have given best when unshipping Paul Townend over this sort of trip at the Punchestown Festival.

The distance is an unknown for Henry de Bromhead and his connections but if he stays Solomn Grundy has the class to run a big race here.

Gowran Park form could have a big Factor

Just six runners go to post for the rated novice chase at Punchestown today but it is a tidy little race. Riders On the Storm has his supporters for Tom Taaffe, while 10-year-old Dr Mikey has fair form and shouldn’t be easily discounted.

However, Impact Factor could be the one to keep punters happy here for BoyleSports ambassador Robbie Power.

The seven-year-old has actually only won once in his career despite showing so much promise but his runs over fences this season have been getting progressively better and the effort behind Cilaos Emery at Gowran Park is the form to take out of it.

Impact Factor was second to the highly rated Willie Mullins runner on Thyestes Chase day and Ex Patriot was back in fourth. That form got a boost at Thurles last Thursday with Ex Patriot coming out and winning his beginners and with enough ease in the ground at Punchestown Impact Factor should open his account over fences this weekend.

Recommended bets
Impact Factor 15/8 – 3.50 Punchestown
Solomn Grundy 11/2 – 4.20 Punchestown

*Prices correct at time of publication