Paloma Blue will appreciate the better ground at Punchestown today and makes plenty of appeal at 11/2 in the Grade 1 Herald Champion Novice Hurdle (4.20).
Henry de Bromhead’s six-year-old finsihed runner-up in a Grade 1 bumper at this meeting 12 months ago to the ill-fated Faynogh and came good at the third time of asking over hurdles when comfortably beating Impact Factor by two lengths in a 14-runner affair at Leoparstown on yielding ground.
He then ran better than the bares result suggests when a 9 1/4 length third of 11 to the brilliannt Samcro in a Gradfe 1 at the same venue on heavy gournd, racing far too keenly but only being headed approaching the last before weakening.
Paloma Blue has since run a cracker to finish a two length keeping on fourth of 19 to Summerville Boy in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham on heavy ground.
Connections have always maintained that he he needs drier ground to be seen to best effect, and the yielding going here should be right up his street.
I also think that Paloma Blue has more to offer and fancy him to turn the tables with the quirky Menglu Khan who finished just in front of him in the Supreme.
With the favourite Getabird having all his best form on testing going and plenty short enough in the betting, Paloma looks the value at the odds on offer.
Dauly Sport recommended bet: 2pts each-way Paloma Blue (11/2 Paddy Power – BOG)
