Punchestown Preview:The father and son team of "Boots" and "Slippers" Madden could be worth siding with at Punchestown today where Wins Now can complete a hat-trick of victories in the novice hurdle.
With heavy ground forecast, and rain on the way, conditions should be ideal for the six-year-old who looked a transformed character when trotting up at Navan in December and followed that with another success at Cork.
In testing going he looks a horse of some potential but he faces a tough task today against the consistent Holly Tree, placed in a Grade Two here earlier in the month, and an interesting newcomer to jumping in Medicinal.
This one was high class on the flat for Dermot Weld but he also looked less than straight-forward so when the going gets tough maybe the tried and trusted Wins Now will be the best option.
Oodachee, placed in the Pertemps at Cheltenham last year, hasn't run over hurdles since April but returns in the two and a half mile conditions event today where he would have a first-rate chance on his best form. The last of his chase starts was in November but testing ground and this trip should be no problem to the talented eight-year-old.
Another returning to the smaller obstacles is Livingstonebramble who goes in the two-and-a-half-mile handicap. A second to Dosco over flights at Christmas a was a good effort by Willie Mullins's horse and the drop back in trip should not concern this speedy sort.
