Punchestown betting tips for November 18 on Horsebetting.com make Champion Bumper winner Relegate the NAP of this eight-race card on her hurdles debut. Cubomania, meanwhile, can continue trainer Gordon Elliott’s fine recent record in the extended 2m 6f Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase. Supasundae never finished out of the frame and won both of his 2m starts last season, so looks a solid each-way bet in the feature Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle. Get the lowdown on all these horses in this detailed preview and Punchestown betting tips for November 18.Promising mare Relegate readily taken on hurdles bow at PunchestownWillie Mullins has yet another serious prospect on his hands with five-year-old mare Relegate, who is sent hurdling after a hugely impressive bumper campaign last season. She makes her bow over timber in the 2m 6f maiden hurdle at Punchestown on Sunday (15:20) and is definitely the one to be on.
A test of stamina should be right up this daughter of Flemensfirth’s ally. After scoring by 1 3/4 lengths on racecourse debut here in January over 2m, Relegate was then pitched straight into Grade 2 company against her own sex at the inaugural Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown.
She found plenty for pressure inside the final furlong to score by 1 1/2 lengths from Getaway Katie Mai. The runner-up came out and won the Grade 2 mares’ bumper at the Aintree Grand National meeting, while the third home Colreevy landed a Grade 3 National Hunt Flat race at the Punchestown Festival.
<h3>Rock solid and quality bumper form</h3>
That form has a solid look and Relegate then took the step up to the highest level in her stride when scoring in the Grade 1 Champion Bumper at the Cheltenham Festival. After being held-up in the hands of the now retired Katie Walsh, she made headway on the outside before the two marker yet still had plenty to do approaching the final furlong in 14th place.
Relegate came with a great run, stayed on superbly to hit the front 100 yards from the line and then hold stable companion Carefully Selected by a neck, leading home a 1-2-3 for the yard. She wasn’t Mullins’ first string by any means according to the betting, belying a starting price of 25/1 with a terrific display.
Although then beaten 25 lengths and seventh in the Punchestown Festival equivalent here last time out, Relegate was at that stage a fully exposed sort in the bumper sphere. Her campaign left the impression that she could make up into the gutsiest of mares and it’s no surprise, given her breeding mentioning above, that connections start her hurdling career over this trip.
As Relegate has everything going for her in this maiden – including a 7lb sex allowance that ensure she gets weights all-round from her six race rivals – her claims are obvious and she’s an Irish horse punters would be wise to follow with the spring festivals in mind. We therefore had no hesitation in making her our NAP of these Punchestown betting tips for November 18.Cubomania the Florida Pearl fancyFrom potential stayers of the future to ones who need to prove their stamina over fences now. Gordon Elliott has won the last two renewals of the extended 2m 6f Grade 2 Florida Pearl Novice Chase (13:40) and is double-handed in his bid for the hat-trick. While Blow By Blow heads the market after an impressive debut win over the bigger obstacles, there’s better value in backing Cubomania on the upgrade and now stepped up in trip.
The five-year-old has been superbly campaigned by the County Meath handler of late, winning four of his six chase starts this season and even a spin on the Flat at Ayr in a handicap in October. Cubomania is notably three from three at 2m 4f over fences and the way he shaped when landing a novice event at Cheltenham last time out suggests the extra distance here shouldn’t be a problem.
<h3>Irish assessor takes a chance</h3>
There’s also a 5lb disparity between official BHA and Irish racing figures to consider with this former Godolphin owned gelding. Cubomania is rated 138 by the assessor on his home side of the Irish Sea, yet raced and won off a British mark of 143 at The Showcase meeting at Prestbury Park last month when keeping on well to beat the then 147 rated Monbeg Legend by 2 3/4 lengths.
It means the Irish handicapper may be underestimating him and his strong record on the forecast good ground is an obvious plus. Blow By Blow hasn’t raced on anything like this sound going since his bumper days, so Cubomania looks the value punt at the odds on offer and based on his BHA mark which puts him top in this.
Mark Walsh now takes the ride, and is operating at a better than 20 per cent strike rate in the past fortnight at the time of writing. Everything looks in place for a huge run; so, if Cubomania proves his stamina, he can rubber stamp his progress in chases with some well-deserved black type.Supasundae a solid each-way bet in Morgiana HurdleThe main event on this eight-race card is the extended 2m Grade 1 Morgiana Hurdle (14:15). As market principals Samcro and Faugheen both have question marks hanging over them, the highly consistent and versatile Jessica Harrington trained Supasundae is a solid each-way bet despite there only being six runners.
This eight-year-old son of Galileo simply doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Supasundae never finished out of the frame last season, having previously landed the ultra-competitive Grade 3 Coral Cup over 2m 5f at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival when scoring by a cosy couple of lengths from the ill-fated Taquin Du Seuil.
Although third and beaten 11 lengths by mighty mare Apple’s Jade on reappearance in the 2m 4f Hatton’s Grace Hurdle at Fairyhouse last term, they then met off the same terms over 3m at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival and Supasundae when down fighting when just touched off half-a-length. Connections then decided to drop him back down in trip to 2m for the Irish Champion Hurdle at the same venue next time up.
<h3>Seen to best effect over this trip last term</h3>
That proved an inspired choice for the Alan and Ann Potts Limited owned gelding, as Supasundae bested the re-opposing Faugheen by 2 1/4 lengths. It left the impression that the still very highly-regarded runner-up wants further now he’s a 10-year-old and lacks the foot to challenge over this trip.
This view was confirmed when Faugheen could only finish a 22 lengths sixth behind Buveur D’Air when bidding to reclaim his Champion Hurdle crown at the Cheltenham Festival, but then blitzed Stayers’ Hurdle hero Penhill by 13 lengths over 3m here in April.
Supasundae, meanwhile, was only beaten a couple of lengths around Prestbury Park in the Stayers, and then three lengths when again runner-up at Grade 1 level – this time to L’Ami Serge in the 2m 4f Aintree Hurdle. He dropped back to 2m for his final start of the campaign in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle over course and distance.
<h3>Samcro has questions to answer</h3>
While the re-opposing Samcro fell three out, along with another fancied runner in Melon, Supasundae was foot perfect until the last and was already clear of the remainder by then anyway. He kept on well to beat Wicklow Brave – another who re-opposes – by 3 1/4 lengths.
The only slight concern is Supasundae has a somewhat mixed record first time out. With Samcro turned over on reappearance in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal by Bedrock, although it’s more than likely he’ll come on for the run, he’s plenty short enough here based on his last two outings and the fact he is winless in open company.
Mullins, meanwhile, has won the last seven renewals of the Morgiana and is triple-handed in his bid to make it eight on the spin. Those connections are obviously respected, but on all known form Supasundae should be hitting the frame off a mark of 164. That’s why he’s the each-way bet from these Punchestown betting tips for November 18 on offer.Your Next Bet