'It'll be a surprise if he does not have a winner or two' - Owner, Trainer and Jockey to watch at Punchestown Taunton's abandonment means there are just three meetings taking place across Britain and Ireland on Thursday and Punchestown provides the Irish action. The ground is currently described as soft, heavy in places and further rain is anticipated. There are eight races across the card and we have a good mix of maidens and handicap action to look forward to. We've selected an owner, trainer and jockey to follow across the card and one of Irish racing's elite handlers could be in for a good day. Owner - Isaac Souede and Simon Munir The familiar double green silks of Souede and Munir are set to be represented twice at Punchestown on Thursday. Ritz Plan runs in the academy hurdle for three-year-old fillies at 1pm and the daughter of Shaman will be making her racecourse debut. The whole point of this series of races is to provide experience for the younger horses and this filly is sure to learn plenty. She has more of a Flat pedigree and is even related to a 6f winner, but there's a good mix of stamina in there as well and you can't rule out a big run. There's €20,000 on offer in the Connolly's RED MILLS Irish EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle and the Henry de Bromhead-trained Yeshil will be representing Souede and Munir. He showed plenty of promise when second in a competitive Punchestown bumper for Stuart Crawford in April. A little unlucky to bump into Kopek Des Bordes on his first start over hurdles on Boxing Day, he should be capable of better and this could be a good opportunity. Trainer - Gordon Elliott County Meath-based trainer Gordon Elliott is set to send four runners to Punchestown and it'll be a surprise if he fails to come away without a winner or two. There's plenty to like about Highland Crystal's pedigree, as she's a relative of Envoi Allen. Mode Avion is arguably his most likely winner of the day and the three-year-old made a good impression when winning a bumper in France back in April. He's been purchased privately since then and you would imagine there's more to come now tackling hurdles. Koktail Brut finished third in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree last term, so he's of obvious interest as he makes his debut over hurdles. Jonny Carrol might be one for handicaps further down the line but he's only had two starts over hurdles so far and is entitled to improve. Jockey - Donagh Meyler Meyler has made a resurgence this season and already has 26 winners on the board, just five fewer than Paul Townend. He has four rides across the card and the most notable one is Punchestown Champion Bumper third Colcannon in a maiden hurdle. Emmet Mullins' Vitorio Piel won a bumper at the Punchestown Festival by six lengths on his debut and bumped into a smart prospect when sixth on hurdling debut here last month. Better is expected this time and he should be much sharper. Golden Temple looks up against it somewhat and will probably do better in handicaps, while Ahellofaman has a bit to prove based on what we've seen so far. Still, there's a solid chance he can land a double on the day and is worth looking out for with that in mind.
