Free betting preview & tips Punchestown | Fran Berry: Queen to reign

Recommended Bets: Thursday September 3

1pt e.w Emphatic Answer in 1.20 Punchestown at 5/1

1pt win She’s Our Queen in 3.55 Punchestown at 2/1

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It’s fantastic to see Flat racing back at Punchestown for the first time in 18 years.

Powerscourt won one of the last two-year-old maidens there and High Chaparral was beaten there over the extended seven on his debut.

It’s a tight right-hand bend into the home straight, it’s sharp enough and I’d say it’ll pay to be handy, but with plenty of unknown factors I’ll take a semi-cautious approach this afternoon.

I’ve two bets, starting with EMPHATIC ANSWER each-way at 5/1 (bet365 1/5 1,2,3) in the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at 1.20.

This No Nay Never filly ran very well on debut in a Cork maiden that’s working out extremely well, with Emaniya, Ahandfulofsummers and Divinely, all running in Group Three company subsequently with the latter horse winning.

April Showers won at Navan last Saturday, too, so it’s red-hot form and Emphatic Answer was beaten just over five lengths but that doesn’t tell the whole story.

She was following a filly into the home straight that got badly unbalanced on the home turn and that impeded Emphatic Answer as the race developed, Declan McDonogh had to sit and wait before getting going.

Had she got a clear run she’d have been a couple of lengths closer, at least, and Joseph O’Brien’s horses nearly always improve for their debut experience.

Later on SHE’S OUR QUEEN looks a solid favourite in the Irish Stallion Farm EBF Fillies Handicap (3.55) and at 2/1 (General) she’s a win bet.

We haven’t seen the best of her yet and her Down Royal fifth last time out can be severely marked up.

She got no racing room on the rail and was essentially on the bridle at the line.

Dropped 2lb for that to a mark of 80, she can put the experience to good use on ideal ground with 3lb claimer Shane B Kelly taking over.

Posted at 1040 BST on 03/09/20

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