Punchestown 4:40 Result

This is a wide-open 17-runner low-grade handicap, but weight-for-rating favours the higher-rated horses at the top of the weights who are dropping into a race full of rivals struggling to string together form. Ohmali (OR60, top weight) has the best figures on offer and a recent 16-day turnaround, but his form (020050) shows more places than wins and he's carrying 142lbs off a mark that hasn't been fully tested at this level - still, he's the one to fear. Signor Ferrari (OR58) is the alternative near the top of the weights with a sounder recent finishing pattern (743-65) showing he's racing consistently without major dips, and unlike many in this field he's had a recent enough run (23 days) to be fit and ready. Conor Cusack's claim helps him get in light relative to his class, and gelding at 5yo with course-and-distance experience suggests he handles this trip. The rest of the field is stuffed with horses in poor recent form (0090xx, 70600x, 550, etc.) rated in the low-40s, making the race look like a match between the two horses carrying more weight for good reason. I lean to Signor Ferrari over the favourite-type Ohmali as the classier, more consistent sort who looks capable of running to a big figure fresh, offering better value than the certain-to-be-shorter-priced Ohmali given similar big chance.