'Banker Material' - Punchestown Lucky 15 Tips There are three meetings across Britain and Ireland on Thursday, all over jumps, with our focus on the competitive eight-race card at Punchestown. Below is our Lucky 15 selection for Thursday's action. Lucky 15 Tips — Thursday 13th November 11.55 Punchestown - James The Brave @ SP 12.30 Punchestown — Glenashling @ SP 2.10 Punchestown — Colcannon @ SP 2.45 Punchestown — Powerful @ SP 11.55 Punchestown - James The Brave Small Town Hero is bound to be popular in his bid for a five-timer, while Duffys Hodey has been hugely progressive over hurdles. However, there are reasons to oppose them, given the former has a career-high mark and Duffys Hodey not seen since February. It could be worth following JAMES THE BRAVE, who left his hurdles form behind when making a successful transition to fences at Killarney last time. He showed an excellent attitude to fend off a more experienced rival, pulling clear of the remainder in the process. He was clearly suited by the step up in trip and there and while this is a deeper contest, the best should be yet to come from this unexposed five-year old. 12.30 Punchestown — Glenashling A competitive novice chase is next up, with a few potential improvers lining up, including Don’t Tell Jack. The son of Affinsea was far from disgraced in some useful maiden hurdles last season, including behind Ethical Diamond and Kopek Des Bordes. However he makes his seasonal debut and may be suited by a longer trip in time. Gavin Gromwell’s GLENASHLING gets the vote instead, with race fitness on his side and some useful experience over fences already this season. He ran a fine race when third on his reappearance and that form looks solid with the winner since filling the runner-up spot in a useful Cheltenham novice and the second taking a mares’ Grade 3 contest back over hurdles. While not so good last time, that was a much deeper contest and this half-brother to Champion Chase winner Special Tiara could prove difficult to beat if getting back to the level of his chasing debut. 2.10 Punchestown — Colcannon A big field go to post for the 2m maiden hurdle with two standout contenders in Koktail Brut and COLCANNON, who set a high standard on last season's bumper form. Preference is for Colcannon, who got the better of Koktail Brut in a Grade 2 at the Dublin Racing Festival. That form worked out well with a subsequent Aintree Grade 2 winner behind. The selection was far from disgraced finishing third in a Grade 1 to finish the season, when attempting to give 7lb to Cheltenham festival winner Bambino Fever and ought to be tough to beat here if translating that form to hurdles. He is proven on deep ground and Noel Meade has taken this contest twice since 2018 - he looks banker material on the card. 2.45 Punchestown — Powerful Next up is POWERFUL for Jessica Harrington, who appeals as the type to improve for the switch to handicaps. The son of Camelot has shown plenty of ability in maiden company, despite looking raw and inexperienced. A recent third on his seasonal debut should set him up nicely for this contest. Connections have found a good opportunity and any improvement in his jumping should see this well bred gelding go close to getting off the mark.
