De Bromhead to continue good form in Punchestown feature The action goes up a gear at Punchestown this afternoon with two Grade 3 events on an eight-race card and the action gets underway at 1.35pm. Henry de Bromhead and Darragh O’Keeffe teamed up for a double here yesterday and they have the odds-on favourite in the €55,000 Matchbook Betting Exchange Chase with Gorgeous Tom. The Knockeen trainer is bidding to land this prize for the third time in four years, and Gorgeous Tom holds obvious claims following a creditable third last time in the Tote Galway Plate. Just four are declared for this 2m7f test with Croke Park and Apple’s Of Bresil in the line-up along with outsider Smallcraftwarning. De Bromhead and O’Keeffe could also land the Matchbook Betting Exchange Mares Handicap Hurdle (2.45) with The Dotski who won a Ballinrobe maiden last month, while Frisco Lad bids to follow up a debut success at Limerick over the summer in the bumper (5.40). There are five declared for the Matchbook Betting Exchange Novice Chase (3.55) and Bunting heads the market at around the 5/4 mark for this &42,000 Grade 3 over 2m2f. The Willie Mullins-trained gelding easily landed the odds on his chasing debut at Ballinrobe but faces a stiff task here against impressive Gowran winner Sir Allen and Vitorio Piel, who has been well supported this morning from 5/1 into 5/2. Vitorio Piel’s trainer Emmet Mullins has a strong contender in the Matchbook Betting Exchange (Q.R.) Handicap Chase (5.07) with Harbour Highway. The going remains good following watering and the forecast is for a dry and windy day.
