Three-time Grade 1 winner bids for Punchestown repeat and Daly eyes more Uttoxeter joy – punting pointers for Tuesday

Punting pointers for Tuesday's meetings . . .

Lingfield: Royal returns from Australia

Royal Champion sets the standard in Lingfield's feature Listed BetUK Quebec Stakes (1.44) as he runs for the first time in Britain since an ambitious trip abroad.

The six-year-old was second in the Canadian International before he left Roger Varian to join Australian trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. He finished runner-up at Group 2 level before disappointing in the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes behind Via Sistina.

His return to action is in much calmer waters at Lingfield, where he faces a field of five in this 1m2f test. Royal Champion is already a dual Listed winner and could find this race much more to his liking on his first start for Karl Burke.

"Royal Champion has been with us for five or six weeks and is a lovely horse to have in the yard," the trainer said. "He seems to have settled in really well. Looking at his record, he's run well fresh so I would be hoping for a bold showing.

"I need to have a discussion with Sheikh Mohammed Obaid about future plans but after this we may look at the Winter Derby."

Tyrrhenian Sea, winner of this race last year, looks to be the chief danger but is 7lb inferior to Royal Champion in the ratings and carries equal weight.

Royal Champion13:44 Lingfield (A.W)

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Jky: Clifford Lee Tnr: K R Burke

Lingfield stat: in-form trainer

Simon Pearce is enjoying his best ever year and has won with two of his last three runners. He runs Seraphic in the 1m4f handicap (3.22).

Seraphic15:22 Lingfield (A.W)

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Jky: Paddy Bradley Tnr: Simon Pearce

Punchestown: Sir Gerhard up against progressive stablemate

Three-time Grade 1 winner Sir Gerhard returns to Punchestown in a bid to defend his title in the 2m3f hurdle (2.05).

The nine-year-old scored at odds-on last year but proved no match for Brighterdaysahead in the Morgiana Hurdle on his latest start, with the winner going on to record another impressive success on Sunday.

He faces easier opposition under Danny Mullins but his main rival could be stablemate Saint Sam, who is the pick of Paul Townend. The seven-year-old was a classy winner of the Clonmel Oil Chase last time out and also won his last two starts over hurdles.

Saint Sam won this race in 2022 and may not have reached his ceiling.

Sir Gerhard14:05 Punchestown

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Jky: Danny Mullins Tnr: W P Mullins

Uttoxeter: Daly out to enhance fine track record

Lime Drop will bid to continue Henry Daly's excellent course record when she lines up against eight rivals in the 2m4f novice handicap chase (3.05).

The Shropshire-based trainer has a 36 per cent strike-rate at the track this season from 11 runners, for a £15.50 profit to £1 level stakes.

Daly sends four to the track, including eight-year-old Lime Drop, who has already exceeded her Racing Post Rating over hurdles of 116 on her first season chasing.

She clocked an RPR of 118 when scoring at the track in November, and while she found the Dan Skelton-trained Beat Box (who won again on Sunday) too good for her last time out, she still ran to an RPR of 118 in third under Sam Twiston-Davies.

Daly also saddles recent winner Fresh Speculation in the 2m4f handicap hurdle (1.00) and debutantes Kershaw County and Briery Rose in the mares' bumper (3.40).

Lime Drop15:05 Uttoxeter

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Jky: Alice Stevens (3lb)Tnr: Henry Daly

Uttoxeter stat: jockey to watch

Henry Brooke is operating at a 27 per cent strike-rate at the track this season. He rides Dusautior in the 3m handicap chase (2.30).

Dusautior14:30 Uttoxeter

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Jky: Henry Brooke Tnr: Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero

Warwick: will things fall right for Special Acceptance?

Special Acceptance is bidding for a first win in four years and could finally end his losing streak in the 3m veterans' handicap chase (1.20).

The 11-year-old's sole success came in December 2020 and his record reads one victory from 32 starts, but he has finished second on both outings for his new trainer Billy Aprahamian this season.

He made his seasonal debut at Uttoxeter when chasing home Vision De Maine and was far from disgraced behind The Wolf – now rated 131 after winning again at Leicester – at Huntingdon last time.

Special Acceptance could finally strike off a mark of 108 under Freddie Gingell and Aprahamian said: "He's run two great races for us and last time we just bumped into one.

"We've taken our time because he put a shift in last time. We've had this race on the radar for a while and it looks a nice place for him."