Fresh from a profitable Saturday, the Punting Pointers team have three selections across two cards on Easter Sunday.
Racing betting tips: Sunday April 20
1pt e.w. Butty O’Brien in the 4:45 Fairyhouse at 33/1 (General ⅕ 1,2,3,4,5) - min 22/1
0.5pt e.w. Bay of Naples in the 3:17 Southwell at 8/1 (Sky Bet ⅕ 1,2,3,4) - min 13/2
1pt e.w. Lady In Havana in the 5:02 Southwell at 9/1 (General ⅕ 1,2,3,4) - min 15/2
4:45 Fairyhouse - Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f
She has been off the track for over a year, but conditions are ideal for Butty O’Brien, and trainer Patrick Magee is more than adept at readying one off a break, as he showed when Good Deal (racing in the same colours as Butty O’Brien) overcame a similar absence at this track in January to win at the rewarding odds of 20/1.
Butty O’Brien ran into Brighterdaysahead when last seen, but had landed a couple of handicap hurdles in the mud at Navan prior to that, showing improved form each time, and the form of her defeat of All For Rachel there last January is very solid, with the three who chased her home all successful since off similar or higher marks. That makes the selection look well treated on a mark of 102. Many of her rivals have been entered up in the expectation of better ground but the daughter of Mustameet relishes the mud, and that isn’t something that can be said for many of this field, with only a trio having been successful in a handicap hurdle with the word “heavy” in the official going description.
3:17 Southwell - Class Handicap 1m 3f 23y
A moderate bunch for sure with winning form thinner than my hair, says David Massey. Bay Of Naples fits in to that hard-to-win-with category but there’s no arguing with his C&D form since the start of 2023 here reading 2320423. He ran without his usual tongue-tie at Wolverhampton last time out and disappointed, the trip probably on the short side for him regardless, but there should be some pace on here, which will suit his late-run style, and he should return us an each-way dividend, at worst.
5:02 Southwell - Class 6 Handicap 7f 14y
Lady In Havana looks a solid candidate for this 7f handicap. Her full form here at Southwell reads 12314, and her only try at seven furlongs was a winning one, so purely on that alone her chance is obvious enough. She lost her form in the winter but came back from a break to run well here last time out, staying on for fourth over a furlong shorter, and she’s on a very good mark today if she can build on that, being 6lb lower than for her most recent course win.
Preview posted at 1035 BST on 20/04/2025
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